A SERIAL criminal who fled police by hobbling from his hospital bed on crutches has been jailed.

Peter Gaughan, 27, was arrested after being cut free from a stolen Honda sports car in North Oxford.

He denied burgling a property in Banbury Road earlier that day to take the car keys and was cleared at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday after jurors failed to reach a verdict.

However, he admitted handling the stolen keys which he used to drive the two-seater through Wolsey Road before hitting a tree in Carlton Road at about 5.10pm on November 28.

He suffered a broken pelvis and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

But Gaughan, who has previous convictions for interfering with vehicles, two attempted burglaries, two burglaries and theft, gave officers the slip and escaped on crutches.

He was finally found hiding in a storage cupboard in Herschel Crescent, Cowley, on December 10.

Gaughan earlier admitted driving while disqualified, having no insurance, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to give a blood test. He also admitted breaching a suspended sentence.

He told jurors in his burglary trial that he could not remember anything after drinking heavily that morning and leaving his mother’s house in Blackbird Leys. He said he remembered being in pain and waking up in hospital.

During an original trial, which had to be adjourned, Gaughan said he burgled due to “drinking, drugs problems, just emotions” and said he would have admitted the burglary if scientific evidence had linked him to the scene.

Judge Gordon Risius jailed him for 17 months.