A MAN who was caught with more than £20,000 worth of property stolen from the home of TV star Bob Mortimer has been jailed for three and a half years.

Police found the items, including paintings, tapestry and a Montrose trophy, in a car Steven Luckie had been driving shortly after the burglary took place.

It was part of a £50,000 haul taken from Mortimer’s house Pett Place in Charing, near Ashford, on July 1 last year.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Luckie later intimidated his ex-girlfriend Zoe Brown, who had made a witness statement to police.

As well as the paintings, tapestry and trophy, the 30-year-old father also handled clothing, electrical goods, a mobile phone, two pairs of glasses and a credit card belonging to the Reeves and Mortimer comic.

Luckie, formerly of Christchurch Road, Ashford, and now of Tennyson Avenue, Canterbury, admitted handling stolen goods, affray and dangerous driving.

He had on June 24 last year been given a 160-hour community punishment order for “smashing up” the home of Miss Brown’s parents.

The stolen property was found in Miss Brown’s car which Luckie had taken just hours after the burglary.

On September 12, he went to Miss Brown’s home and swore at her, calling her a grass. She was so terrified that she ran out with her two children, aged six and nine.

Two days later Luckie was involved in a “horrific” car chase on Ashford roads including Jemmett, Beaver, Kingsnorth and Hampden. Recorder David Bate, QC, said if pedestrians and other drivers had not got out of the way of Luckie’s Vauxhall Omega they would have been “maimed or worse”.

He finally fled from the car and had to be sprayed with CS gas when he resisted arrest.

Bozzi Sheffi, defending, said Luckie suffered four per cent burns from the gas. “Further exposure to it could be life threatening,” she said.

Miss Sheffi said Luckie had been involved in a removal business and carried out work for charity, including the Dr Barnado’s foundation.

“He is a bit older and considerably wiser,” she said. “He was out of control. The court should take a chance. It would be his last chance.”

Recorder Bate said the handling offence was the proceeds of a professionally planned burglary. “I take the view that you are at a high risk of offending,” he said. “Prison is the only way to ensure that you don’t offend in future.”

Luckie was jailed for a year for handling, 18 months for dangerous driving and a year for affray, all consecutive. He was banned from driving for four years.