Farmer Matthew Woods faces lengthy prison time after spree of burglaries and thefts

Matthew John Woods has admitted an 18-month crime spree across Canterbury.

A Canterbury farmer linked to burglaries and thefts of farm machinery, tools, and trailers worth more than $200,000 has been told today that he faces a lengthy jail term.

Matthew John Woods, 43, is connected with an 18-month crime spree across Canterbury, that saw businesses, farms, commercial lock-ups, and residential homes targeted.

A glove left at a burglary scene matched Woods' DNA, Christchurch District Court heard today.

When police raided a property in Christchurch, and another in rural Selwyn, that Woods was involved with, they found more than $160,000 worth of stolen goods.

Woods was found in possession of stolen tractors, ride-on mowers, trailers, building and construction equipment, machinery, power tools and a racing bike.

Police finally caught him on September 6 this year when an officer recognised him driving on State Highway 1 near Dunsandel.

Woods, driving a green VW station wagon and towing a stolen trailer with ride-on lawn mower on top, sped off and took police on a chase that reached speeds of 140km/h.

He went through a stop sign and sped through road works as police abandoned the pursuit.

He was slowed by road spikes on SH73 before police rammed him off the road after the 24km chase.

A search of Woods' car turned up dozens of keys to vehicles, houses, and industrial equipment including diggers, loaders, and forklifts.

Police also found 1.6 grams of methamphetamine, morphine, 2.5 grams of benzylpiperazine (BZP) in his car.

Woods, through defence counsel Tim Fournier, admitted 45 charges today of burglary, receiving stolen property, drugs, failing to stop, breach of community work, and fraud charges to a value of $9500.

Fournier accepted Woods was looking at a "substantial term of imprisonment".

Judge David Saunders remanded Woods in custody to be sentenced on January 30.