A CRIMINAL caught sitting in a stolen £30,000 Audi tried to run away from police while handcuffed — only to fall down just 10 metres into his escape bid.

Daniel Burtak, who has 24 previous convictions relating to 75 offences, tried to escape police after he was hauled out of the stolen car.

The Audi R8 had been stolen the previous day, but police tracked it and saw Burtak and another man walking towards it on January 14 carrying number plates and a large fob key.

When Burtak sat in the car, police moved into arrest him and handcuffed him, pinning him to the rear of the car.

Burtak, aged 28, gave his name as Paul Jenkins, before running away still in handcuffs and falling over just 10 metres away.

Police promptly detained him again.

In police interview, he said a man called Waqas had offered him £150 to remove the vehicle, but Burtak initially claimed he did not know it was stolen.

Judge Timothy Clayson jailed him for two years at Bolton Crown Court on Friday.

The court was told that Burtak's partner and children have moved to Cumbria to start a new life.

Nick Ross, defending, said Burtak regrets his involvement in the matter and wished to apologise to the court.

Mr Ross said: "The defendant went on a rather pointless attempt to run away and fell over.

"He was compliant and answered every question."

Burtak, of Mornington Road, Heaton, was initially charged with escaping lawful custody, but he instead pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of resisting arrest, which satisfied the crown.

Burtak was jailed for one year for the charge of handling stolen goods.

He received no further punishment either for that or the possession of cannabis — after police found a snap bag when arresting him, along with £1,450 in cash.

In 2007, Burtak was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for carrying out an armed raid at The Diamond Store, in Crown Street.

Burtak was then caught red-handed dumping jewellery worth thousands of pounds as he fled from a police officer.