A HOMELESS couple who broke into a police station and took a patrol car on a 250 mile joyride before crashing at speed on the M4 in Slough have been sentenced.

Daniel Toy and girlfriend Samantha Poole averaged over 100mph as they sped from Cornwall to Berkshire, stealing food and fuel from two petrol stations on the way.

As they neared Slough their speed increased to 110mph and peaked at 124mph and they dangerously undertook other motorists.

After tracking and shadowing the car which had been stolen in Cornwall police eventually stopped it with a stinger at 3am on the M4.

The homeless pair turned on the car's blue lights in the minutes leading up to the dramatic end to the pursuit.

Toy, 24, has now been jailed for two and a half years. Poole, 31, was given a 15-month sentence but was released due to time already spent in custody.

Slough Observer:

Daniel Toy.

Their crime spree began in Camelford, Cornwall when they went to the home of someone who had previously helped them and stole their 50" TV in front of them.

They then went to nearby Camelford police station which was locked and unmanned where Toy broke in through a window and took the keys to the car parked outside.

The pair sped along the A30 through Cornwall and onto the M5 past Bristol and then onto the M4 towards London.

They stopped at two service stations - stealing two energy drinks from one and petrol from another.

Truro Crown Court heard that Poole drove the car most of the way to Bristol before Toy took over, averaging 110mph but reaching 124mph on occasions.

Following police watched as he undertook cars on the motorway and almost lost control in coned off areas.

Judge Simon Carr said the case was "some of the worst driving I've ever had to pass sentence on".

He told the pair: "That no-one was killed or seriously injured was just luck.

"You were also violent and aggressive when arrested and have an appalling record for dishonesty and violence."

Toy admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle theft, driving while disqualified, making off without payment for fuel and for theft of the TV.

Poole admitted making off without payment, taking a vehicle without authority and theft of a TV.

The offences all took place on 7 October last year.

Defending Toy, Ramsay Quaife, said that Toy had 15 convictions for 39 offences with the first motoring offence occurring when he was just 13.

"It's the same old story," he said.

"He was in and out of care and whilst in care began to take drugs to black out things that were happening to him.

"It was an upbringing that no child should have. Mr Toy is still a young man and is in danger of being institutionalised."