It was a Express & Star front page which helped to bring a ruthless gang of car key raiders to justice.

Raider Martin Steadman, below right, was so proud of appearing in the paper when his getaway car crashed after a 140mph police chase that he cut the article out and sent it to a friend in prison.

Prison bosses intercepted the newspaper cutting, complete with a “boastful” letter from Steadman about how his gang had broken into two branches of Tesco and Sainsbury’s in the Worcester area.

See also: Police chase ends in crash

Crash photo gallery

His four-strong gang stole more than £7,000 worth of cash and cigarettes before leading officers on a 40-mile chase around the Midlands in a Mitsubishi Evolution, stolen the previous day in Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

A police car was rammed on the A449 between Kidderminster and Worcester as the gang attempted to flee after officers deployed a “stinger” device in a failed bid to destroy the getaway car’s tyres.

Up to 50 police officers were involved in the pursuit, which ended when the gang’s driver clipped a passing 4×4 on the A4123 in Tividale, sending it spinning into the air and sliding on its roof and coming to rest 100 metres away.

Yesterday Steadman, aged 23, of Luce Road, Low Hill, and 21-year-old Craig Thomas, also of Luce Road, who had admitted burglary and aggravated vehicle taking, were jailed for a year at Worcester Crown Court for the November 2006 crime spree.

Case officer Dc Neil Rawlins, of West Mercia Constabulary, said Steadman’s letter described the burglaries and pursuit. Judge Alister McCreath said the letter was boastful and that it was “astonishing” that Steadman had not learned his lesson.

Steadman is widely regarded as one of the most prolific car key burglars in the Black Country. Driver Michael Stubbs, who was not in court, is on the run. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Passenger Scott Parker was left in a coma and has been left permanently brain damaged.