A THIEF who stole a car with a mother and daughter sitting inside was jailed for four years yesterday.

Michael Carter, 22, jumped into the parked Ford Escort where Clare Henderson and her 12-year-old daughter, Carly, were waiting outside a shop.

Ms Henderson, who is registered disabled and had her arm in a sling and leg in plaster, had stayed in the car while her partner, John Peart, and the couple's son, John, eight, went into Costcutters, in Front Row, Sunderland.

But Newcastle Crown Court heard how Carly tried to stop Carter - who had drunk cider and vodka, and taken valium - by pulling the handbrake, but was pushed away.

She then managed to jump out of the vehicle but had her leg crushed beneath the wheels as Carter continued to drive off.

He eventually crashed into a car parked nearby.

Carter had a string of motoring offences and was banned from driving when he took the vehicle on April 1, the court heard.

He admitted kidnap, aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, having no insurance, driving with excess alcohol and driving while disqualified.

In mitigation, Tony Hawks said Carter, of no fixed address, was ashamed of his behaviour.