A man, Nathan Owen, 33, deliberately crashed into a police car multiple times in an attempt to fake an emergency and total his vehicle, a Jaguar, in Merseyside. Owen falsely claimed his car was out of control and accelerating uncontrollably, leading to a high-speed pursuit on motorways where he reached speeds of up to 86mph. Despite triggering a significant police response, investigations revealed that Owen was in full control of the car the entire time.
Owen pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of fraud, receiving a sentence of four years and three months in prison. The judge criticized Owen for causing panic and substantial disruption with his deceitful actions, noting that the police officers risked their safety believing it was a genuine emergency. The court heard that Owen orchestrated the incident to get rid of the vehicle due to financial difficulties, despite having full control over it.
The fake emergency led to the closure of motorways, endangering workers and other road users. Owen’s reckless behavior resulted in a ban from driving for five years post-release. Despite earning money by selling his story to media outlets, Owen’s actions were described as “frighteningly stupid” by his defense counsel. The court highlighted the unnecessary alarm caused by Owen’s fabricated events, emphasizing the need for accountability for his dangerous and fraudulent behavior.
Merseyside Police emphasized that Owen’s actions put lives at risk and caused unnecessary danger, leading to a charge of causing a public nuisance being left on file. Overall, the incident highlighted the serious consequences of Owen’s irresponsible and deceptive behavior, impacting both public safety and law enforcement resources.
