Man jailed for JCB wrecking spree in Nottinghamshire Published duration 3 October 2011

media caption A man who went on the run from police using a JCB vehicle has been described by a judge as behaving like a "man possessed"

A man who left a trail of destruction when he drove a stolen JCB through a Nottinghamshire village has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Steven Regan, 34, of Colenso Terrace, Leeds, damaged vehicles, hedges and cemetery headstones during the rampage in Church Warsop on 2 July.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Regan had driven "like a man possessed".

He admitted a range of offences and was revealed to be a member of a gang which stole plant equipment.

The court was told Regan had stolen the vehicle from a Barratt Homes building site in Forest Town, Mansfield.

After finding himself followed by police cars and a helicopter, Regan drove the JCB through a field and into Warsop Cemetery, flattening its heavy iron gates and several headstones.

The destruction was said to have cost the cemetery £15,000.

The court also heard he had driven the digger through Church Warsop forcing one driver to accelerate out of his way.

Police eventually caught Regan when the JCB suffered a flat tyre and came to a halt.

Regan pleaded guilty to a range of offences including dangerous driving, theft and criminal damage.

He admitted stealing 16 other vehicles in the year leading up to the rampage.