A DRUG addict's need for heroin drove him back to crime just two weeks after he was released on parole from a three year prison term, a court heard.

David Peploe, 26, of Foxes Piece, Marlow, took two cars from the Dovecot multi-storey car park in High Wycombe within days of each other last November, Aylesbury Crown Court heard on Friday.

Peploe was committed to the crown court for sentence by Wycombe magistrates on January 7 after pleading guilty to taking a Vauxhall Astra without consent on November 16 and aggravated vehicle taking three days later involving a Vauxhall Nova.

Prosecuting, Richard Sothcott said police saw Peploe driving both vehicles in Marlow at different times on November 19. Later the same day Peploe was spotted by police driving at speed in the Nova and after a police chase, Peploe crashed the car into a steel bollard in Parkway, writing off the vehicle.

The court was told Peploe, who has a string of previous convictions, was jailed for three years in August 1999 for burglary and released on parole a fortnight before the cars were taken.

Sam Smith said in mitigation that Peploe's drug addiction was behind his offending and added: "Some 15 days after his release he was back to needing heroin and taking cars."

Judge David Morton Jack sent Peploe back to jail for 23 months, including 17 months outstanding on his last sentence as well as four months for taking the Astra and six months for aggravated vehicle taking, both to run concurrent to each other but consecutive to the 17 months.