A “PROLIFIC” burglar who raided houses in Bromsgrove has been jailed for almost a decade after police foiled his botched getaway in a stolen Mini.

Martin Tolan drove the vehicle through queuing traffic in a desperate bid to shrug off police, but was stopped in his tracks when officers swarmed the car.

CCTV shows vehicles backed up at Bristol Road lights in Birmingham on April 12 before Tolan careers into them behind the wheel of a stolen Mini.

The 28-year-old, from Central Avenue in Northfield, shunted several cars in an attempt to force his way through.

But cops surrounded him and used batons to shatter the car’s windows before pulling him from the vehicle.

Unemployed Tolan targeted high-value cars at home across the Midlands.

He was linked to burglaries in Marlbrook, Bromsgrove, on 9 April, but released on bail to give police more time to seize evidence and receive DNA results.

He was arrested again on May 23 after three more burglaries in which door locks had been snapped off − a tactic employed by Tolan.

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(ABOVE: Martin Tolan has been locked behind bars)

CCTV footage showed Tolan breaking into a house in Nuthurst Road, Northfield, on May 18, just 30 minutes after stealing a Nissan Qashqai from another address.

And he was also among a group who struck at an address in Cofton Park Drive, Rednal, in the early hours of May 23 and made off in a Mercedes C-Class and an Audi A5.

Tolan was arrested later that day by which time forensic analysis of a wrench left on a sofa at the Marlbrook, Bromsgrove, burglary returned a DNA match to Tolan.

He admitted multiple burglaries, dangerous driving, handling stolen goods and theft − and at Birmingham Crown Court on July 27 was jailed for a total of nine years and 11 months.

West Midlands Police Detective Sergeant Toni Holl said: “Residents can sleep more soundly knowing Tolan is behind bars.

“We have proved he was responsible for at least five burglaries but it’s suspected he was linked to more.

“Several of his victims were woken to find him intruding in their homes while others only found their cars gone in the morning.

“No-one was injured but I’m glad the court has recognised the prolific nature of Tolan’s offending, plus the psychological impact burglary can have on victims, and jailed him for a long time."