A man was caught on camera crashing into a police car in a bizarre incident where he pretended to have an emergency to intentionally wreck his vehicle. Nathan Owen, 33, repeatedly rammed into a police car after falsely reporting that his Jaguar was malfunctioning and uncontrollable, as revealed in Liverpool Crown Court on Monday.
Owen sped at up to 86mph on multiple motorways across Merseyside for approximately 35 minutes, covering a distance of around 38 miles during the occurrence on March 6, 2024. His actions prompted a significant police response under the belief that a dangerous situation was unfolding, but subsequent investigations confirmed that Owen was fabricating the emergency and had complete control over the vehicle throughout.
Following his dangerous driving and fraudulent behavior, Owen admitted guilt and received a sentence of four years and three months in prison. Judge Ian Unsworth KC denounced Owen’s conduct, stating it caused distress, chaos, and financial loss to multiple parties involved. The judge highlighted the risk posed to police officers who responded genuinely to what they believed was a critical situation.
Prosecutor Eric Lamb disclosed that Owen, residing in Prestatyn, North Wales, had taken out a finance agreement for the Jaguar I-Pace in September 2023. Facing financial struggles and arrears with CA Auto Finance amounting to £5,000, Owen sought to exploit the situation by falsely claiming a vehicle malfunction to dispose of the car.
An extensive police pursuit ensued, necessitating the closure of motorways for public safety. Owen was eventually apprehended after emergency services intervened to halt the vehicle near Warrington, Cheshire. Despite Owen’s claims of a malfunctioning car, subsequent examinations revealed no technical faults with the vehicle.
Owen’s deliberate deception led to additional repercussions for Jaguar Land Rover UK, with substantial costs incurred to counter negative publicity resulting from the false allegations. In court, Owen’s defense attorney, Daniel Travers, characterized his client’s actions as recklessly foolish, emphasizing his lack of prior criminal history and his upbringing in a stable family environment.
In conclusion, Owen’s deceitful actions resulted in legal consequences, including a five-year driving ban upon his release. Merseyside Police emphasized the dangers posed by Owen’s reckless behavior and affirmed that he was in full control of his vehicle despite feigning a crisis. The charge of causing a public nuisance was left on file as part of the legal proceedings.