AN ICE truck thief who led police on a wild-goose chase around the island for about 90 minutes last December was jailed two years and banned from driving for three years on Thursday.

Rajagopal Ramayan, 46, a former patient of the Insitute of Mental Health, was also fined $500 each on two charges - failing to provide his DNA sample and his photographs, finger impression and particulars at Ang Mo Kio police division on Dec 6 last year, a day after his arrest.

The former cabby stole the $10,000 Mitsubishi Canter lorry at a carpark at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 at about 11.15am on Dec 5.

Myanmar driver Wunna Swe, 28, had left the key in the ignition with the engine running when he left to do some delivery nearby.

Rajagopal hopped onto the driver's seat and drove the lorry away. When Mr Wunna Swe saw this, he chased after the lorry but could not catch up. He called his boss, who contacted the police.

About half an hour later, the lorry, fitted with global positioning system, was spotted in Buangkok Green.

Rajagopal was seen driving in a zig-zag manner causing danger to other road users. At one point, he stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road and drove dangerously by swerving from left to right.

Earlier reports said that Rajagopal led police on a 58-km chase from Sengkang to Yio Chu Kang Road. He was finally caught hiding under a vehicle at a ComfortDelgro workshop at Sin Ming Drive.

His assigned lawyer, Mr B. J. Lean, said Rajagopal, who has been suffering from schizophrenia since 2002, was remorseful for what he had done.

He told Community Court Judge Bala Reddy that the latest medical report from IMH showed that he was entirely different from the last time. He was managing well with medication and would benefit from long-term treatment, he added.

Six other traffic-related offences were taken into consideration during sentencing.

Rajagopal has previous convictions for robbery, disorderly behaviour and criminal intimidation. He could have been jailed for up to seven years for motor vehicle theft.