Robert Norris, 28, had been arrested and put in the back of PC Liam Buttle’s squad car in Cardiff, Wales.
However, Norris managed to activate the central locking system and climb into the driver’s seat before speeding away in the stolen vehicle.
He later took the officer’s satellite navigation system.
Norris was picked up at his home in Swansea – 40 miles away from the scene.
Paul Hewitt, prosecuting, said: "The officer was left stranded at the roadside but managed to get Norris's name from his passenger who was still in the car."
"When Norris was interviewed he told officers, 'Sorry about the sat-nav but I had to find my way back to the train station.' "
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