AFTER he was seen taking a Transit van from a building site, Anthony Brearley was thrown from the cab when it flipped as the owner gave chase in another vehicle.
And because of the head injuries the 34 year-old suffered in the crash near Tanworth, he cannot remember why he took the Transit, a judge has heard.
Brearley, of Hall Green, Birmingham, who pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to a charge of aggravated vehicle taking, was sentenced to six months in jail suspended for two years, with 12 months supervision, and was disqualified from driving for two years.
Prosecutor Shane Crawford said Transit owner Mark Palmer saw it being driven off while he was working in Tanworth last June.
Mr Palmer set off in pursuit in his Range Rover, which was also at the site. At one point Brearley deliberately reversed into the Range Rover.
While overtaking a line of cars as he tried to escape, Brearley lost control as another car came straight towards him, and the van flipped over, flinging Brearley out.
Badly injured, he was detained by Mr Palmer before the police and the air ambulance arrived and he was rushed to hospital.
Near where he had landed the police found the keys to his own van, which he had left close to the building site.
Sharon Bailey, defending, said Brearley genuinely had no memory of the events leading up to the accident.
She added at the time Brearley had been out of trouble for several years, and had a glowing reference from his automotive company employers.
