A woman attending choir practice had her Mercedes stolen from outside the church.

Elizabeth Hughes had parked the car outside the church in Watling Street, Radlett, on November 18, 2013.

While she was singing, the car key was taken from her coat pocket that was hung in the vestibule and the car was driven off, St Albans crown court heard on Tuesday.

Mrs Hughes did not get the car back for another four months after police in London stopped John Ireland in another car. When a search was carried out the key for the Mercedes was found inside.

John Ireland, 47, of Finchley Lane, Barnet, pleaded guilty to theft. He had 46 previous convictions.

Defending, Simon Ralph said the offence was 18 months old. At the time he said Ireland had been "chronically addicted" to cannabis and cocaine and was abusing alcohol. Since then he said he had "cured a great many ills in his life."

Recorder Stephen Blackford jailed him for seven months, saying it was professional theft that involved two or three men.