A QUICK-thinking member of the public has been given a £200 reward for chasing a notorious York burglar for eight miles across North Yorkshire.

John Michael Harris, 24, once nicknamed Blip Boy for his single-handed ability to send York crime figures soaring, was jailed for four-and-a-half years yesterday for dangerous driving, burglary and handling stolen goods. He was spotted by a policeman at New Buildings Farm, near Wighill, shortly after he broke into a house in Main Street, Askham Bryan, on the afternoon of June 25, 2003.

Harris told the officer he had broken down but then escaped in his Volvo estate car. The officer tried to stop him and sprayed him with CS gas but it seemed to have little effect.

Public-spirited Dennis Musson saw Harris escape and set off in pursuit in his yellow Renault Megane.

He followed Harris, of Abbey Court, Bell Farm, York, as he drove at speed through Wighill and down into Tadcaster, at times on the wrong side of the road.

Mike Smith, prosecuting, said Harris drove through a red light in Tadcaster then drove through Catterton to Bilbrough, all the time with Mr Musson and the police chasing him. While in Bilbrough, Harris collided with a brewery delivery van, at which point a police officer on a motorbike rode towards him.

Mr Smith said: "His reaction was to drive at the police officer, who had to take evasive action. The wing mirror of the bike and the defendant's car collided."

Harris then drove on to the A64 towards Copmanthorpe. When he came to a roundabout, Mr Musson saw the Volvo clip a lorry.

Mr Smith said Harris then headed up the A1237 until he collided with a bollard at the junction with Moor Lane. He drove into a cul-de-sac, followed by the police, and then ran away on foot, throwing away an 18in cosh.

Helen Hendry, for Harris, said he was addicted to heroin and stole to feed his habit.

She said he had been amazed and frightened to find he was being pursued by a middle-aged man in a bright yellow sports car.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Hoffman described Harris's escape as "simply appalling".

He praised Mr Musson, saying: "He behaved in a very public spirited way and followed him all the way."

He banned Harris from driving for three years and ordered him to take an extended test before getting behind the wheel again. He also ordered the defendant to serve 233 days of a previous prison sentence after he completed the four- and-a-half year sentence.

As well as dangerous driving, Harris admitted burgling the house in Askham Bryan and selling a stolen diamond and platinum ring, worth almost £5,000, to a pawn shop in Front Street, Acomb.

Harris's partner, mother-of-one Simone Mariga, 28, of Bouthwaite Drive, Acomb, was given a two year community rehabilitation order for two counts of handling stolen goods - pawning the stolen ring with Harris and handling a stolen Christian Dior watch worth £500.

Updated: 10:41 Tuesday, February 24, 2004