Car stolen from husband visiting unwell wife at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth

Portsmouth Crown Court heard the Alfa Romeo was taken from Queen Alexandra Hospital and bought by Victoria Rogers.

Prosecutor Christopher Wing told how the 40-year-old claimed she bought the car from two men she claimed were friends of a pal's son.

Cops later saw the car and chased her as Rogers, of Halstead Road, Wymering, sped off to avoid being caught in Gosport Road, Fareham, by an unmarked police car.

Mr Wing said: 'It would appear the the officers were following in an unmarked police vehicle.

'It would appear that the defendant and other occupants noticed the vehicle behind them and drove away at speed, driving the wrong way to go in front of a queue of traffic then pushing through a set of traffic lights, red at the time, and driving off afterwards.

'Police officers had activated the blue lights and sirens, followed the vehicle.

'Police managed to pulled alongside to prevent it from crossing oncoming traffic.'

The court heard she was uninsured at the time.

He added: 'The officers got out but the occupants remained in the car and locked the window and Ms Rogers continued revving the engine.

'In order to immobilise the car, the police broke the front window and windscreen to remove the keys and the occupants were duly arrested.'

The car was stolen on July 11 last year.

Heroin addict Rogers was convicted of handling stolen goods, the car, and admitted dangerous driving.

Sentencing, judge Timothy Mousley QC said: 'I'm going to give you one last chance.'

He imposed a nine-month jail term suspended for 18 months.

Rogers, who has 37 previous convictions for 98 offences, must complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities, a 7pm-7am curfew and a 12-month driving ban.

Rogers' lawyer said it was 'gutting' when she found out the car was stolen from a hospital patient's visitor.