THREE men led police on a "prolonged and highly dangerous" 21-mile chase through Gwent, reaching speeds of more than 100mph, before their car ended up in a mud-filled pool near a building site.

Judge Jeremy Jenkins told the trio - who had been stealing, and attempting to steal, equipment from builders' vans in Chepstow and Langstone in the early hours of January 27 this year - it was a "miracle no-one was hurt or killed."

Thomas Ross, 22, of Trowbridge, Cardiff, Liam Southall, 19, of Rumney, Cardiff, and Nathan Weeks, 22, of Adamsdown, Cardiff, were spotted by police leaving the scene of an attempted theft, also in Langstone.

Nearly hitting the officers' van while driving away, they disappeared into the lanes around Llanvair Discoed.

Shortly afterwards however, their Vauxhall Corsa was spotted Newport-bound on the A48, by officers in a police car who went after them.

Running red lights around the Coldra roundabout, driver Ross headed north on the A449 towards Monmouth.

Prosecuting counsel Jason Howells told Cardiff Crown Court the Corsa travelled at speeds regularly in excess of 90mph. At one stage it reached 102mph, and had been straddling the centre line of the dual carriageway.

It entered the 50mph zone at the Gibraltar Tunnels near Monmouth at 90mph, then turned off into Cinderhill Street, topping 50mph in a 30mph zone.

This street and Wonastow Road, where the car reached 65mph, are single carriageway roads with parked cars and rows of houses.

Near a new housing estate off Wonastow Road, Ross's car plunged into a muddy pool and stopped. He and Weeks ran off - Southall remained in the car - but were soon caught. All three were arrested.

They pleaded guilty to two counts of theft and one of criminal damage. Ross also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

They had stolen power tools worth £2,315 from a builder's van in Aust Crescent, Chepstow, earlier that evening. Later they took equipment from another builder's van in Tregarn Road, Langstone, but left empty-handed when disturbed by the owner.

On a third occasion - before the police first spotted them, they broke a van's door handle, but could not get in as cable ties were fixed inside.

The court was told that Weeks was suffering from depression, and Southall had no real understanding of why he got involved.

Byron Broadstock, defending Ross, said it was fortunate no-one was injured in the chase, though that was "more by luck than design."

"He (Ross) recognises this was foolish behaviour and he could have killed himself and others," said Mr Broadstock.

Judge Jenkins sentenced Ross to a total of 76 weeks in prison, Weeks to a total of 36 weeks in prison, and Southall to a total of 36 weeks in a youth offenders' institution.

He said he had "absolutely no doubt" they planned the thefts, while Ross was responsible for "a particularly bad example of prolonged, dangerous driving."

"It is a miracle no-one was hurt or killed as a result," he said.