A CAR-JACKER was traced when a mobile phone left in the vehicle was used as a tracking device, a court heard.

Marilyn Kirby had to leap out of her husband's van when Andrew Parr climbed in the driver's side and started to pull away.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Anthony Kirby left the engine running while he popped into a shop in Middlesbrough.

Parr - who has 49 offences on his record, mainly for vehicle crime - asked Mrs Kirby if she was going to get out of the van.

The startled passenger replied "no, you are having a laugh" - but before she had time to escape 34-year-old Parr drove off.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson said Mrs Kirby tried to hang onto the door and shouted for her husband's help.

Parr sped off and forced other motorists in the Cargo Fleet Lane area to take emergency action to avoid a collision.

The Kirbys contacted police and their son who suggested the iPhone in the van could be used to trace it, said Miss Atkinson.

The white Renault Traffic vehicle was found within minutes in Rowarth Road and Parr was found hiding in a nearby garden.

He had taken off his jeans and tracksuit top and was wearing just a t-shirt and cotton boxer shorts, Miss Atkinson told the court.

Judge Howard Crowson was told that a black briefcase which had been taken from the van was also found nearby.

Tests showed Parr was more than double the drink-drive limit with 197 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

He admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking, driving with excess alcohol and having no insurance on July 28.

His lawyer, Graham Brown, told the court that he had stayed out of trouble for a decade until a relationship breakdown.

Mr Brown said Parr became a homeless "couch-hopper" and returned to drinking "large quantities" of alcohol.

"If it wasn't so serious, this is almost the kind of thing you see in a comedy programme on the television," said Mr Brown.

"The defendant realises the impact upon the lady in the van. I have no doubt that his remorse and regret is genuine."

Parr, of Thomas Street, Middlesbrough, was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, with supervision.

He was also ordered to undergo an alcohol treatment programme and was disqualified from driving for a year.