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Nathan Owen, a 33-year-old from Prestatyn, north Wales, has been sentenced to over four years in prison after fabricating a dramatic incident involving his luxury electric Jaguar. On March 6, 2024, Owen contacted the police claiming that his Jaguar I-Pace was out of control and unable to brake while traveling down the M57 motorway in Merseyside. However, the court learned that this was a complete fabrication intended to help Owen escape his vehicle finance agreement. He also sold his fabricated story to tabloid newspapers, earning a combined £800 by describing the experience as a “terror ride” and likening it to a scene from the video game Grand Theft Auto.
According to evidence presented at Liverpool Crown Court, Owen drove the car for 38 miles across the M57 and M58 motorways before officers finally intervened on the M62 near Birchwood, Warrington. Police managed to box in the vehicle and bring it safely to a stop. Prosecutor Eric Lamb described Owen’s driving as dangerously reckless, with speeds reaching up to 86 mph. Notably, Owen ran through red traffic lights before entering the motorway and was found texting his girlfriend during the incident, colliding multiple times with police cars that attempted to assist.
Police dashcam footage played in court captured Owen’s Jaguar following a police vehicle while he was simultaneously on a call to the emergency services. The footage also revealed several minor collisions occurring as the vehicles traveled together in a convoy before the final stop. It emerged that Owen’s first call to the police was actually made when the car was stationary and was placed shortly after a rejected request to his finance company for additional funds. On the 999 call, Owen stated, “I don’t know how to explain, my car’s not stopping, my car’s stuck at 78mph and I’m going down the motorway.”
Owen’s actions caused significant disruption and forced Jaguar Land Rover to spend £50 million in marketing expenses to repair the damage to their reputation caused by the press coverage of the false claims. Police investigations also uncovered that Owen was heavily in debt and had multiple missed payments on his car finance. Text messages recovered showed he had been planning to dispose of the vehicle, even considering getting it written off. During sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC condemned Owen’s behavior for causing “undoubted alarm to the public” and placing police officers in danger. Owen was also disqualified from driving for five years and must pass an extended driving test before regaining his license
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