A PROLIFIC burglar who kidnapped a driver at knifepoint during a "period of madness" has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Unemployed Lee Gannon, 43, went on a 20 day crime spree after breaking up with his long-term partner.

His most serious offence took place on Monday, April 11 when he waved a knife at workers in the Co-op, in Sutton Road, Southend, in a bungled burglary.

After being chased out into the street, Gannon jumped into a passing Volvo and ordered driver Peter Cook to speed off.

Basildon Crown Court heard Mr Cook told the prolific burglar "you're having a bad day aren't you?"

Prosecutor Lauren Sales said: “The traffic was slow and he was driving very slowly.

“As it came to a standstill he could hear someone shouting ‘lock the door’.

“Mr Gannon then got in to his passenger seat. He had a knife, Mr Cook describes it as being a six-inch blade.”

Gannon told him Mr Cook to drive to Southchurch Road, a one mile journey that lasted about ten minutes.

Gannon pleaded guilty to burglary, possession of a knife and kidnap during an earlier court hearing.

He also admitted a burglary at Linens Direct on April 2, WHSmith on April 11, and Holland and Barrett on April 12, all in Southend High Street.

Gannon asked for 14 other offences to be taken into consideration.

The court heard he had 80 previous convictions for dishonesty and burglary.

Sam Blomme-Plumer, mitigating, told the court that the crack and heroin addict had been clean for eight years until his 20-year relationship broke down in March.

He said the spree was a “period of madness” and despite Gannon's long criminal record, the kidnapping was his first offence against the person.

He said: “Mr Cook says that Gannon didn’t threaten him, he was nervous and fidgeting.

“But he was clearly holding a knife and that must have been intimidating and worrying for Mr Cook.”

Sentencing Gannon, Judge Jonathan Black said: “This was you making your getaway. You did effectively make a demand of Mr Cook to take you somewhere although the journey length was ten minutes, which is a mitigating factor.

“You have 69 appearances before the court and the vast majority of these cases were for dishonesty and offences where you entered commercial premises intending to or having stolen.”

Gannon was sentenced to two years and six months in total for the four burglaries, one year for possession of the knife and one year for the kidnapping, to run consecutively.