A debt-ridden driver has been jailed for over four years for fabricating a brake failure incident in his electric Jaguar, which he used to drive at high speeds on motorways, in an attempt to evade car finance payments. Nathan Owen, 33, was sentenced to 51 months at Liverpool Crown Court for dangerous driving and fraud.
Owen called emergency services claiming his Jaguar I-PACE, valued at approximately £70,000, had lost its brakes and was stuck at 70 mph. He had been attempting to avoid payments on the vehicle, having fallen into financial difficulty and arrears with his finance company. Investigations found no fault with the car, and Owen was found to have had full control of the vehicle throughout the incident.
During the 35-minute incident on March 6, 2024, Owen travelled 38 miles across the M58, M57, and M62 motorways in Merseyside, reaching speeds of up to 86 mph. Police dash cam footage showed officers repeatedly attempting to box in the vehicle and bring it to a halt, with Owen colliding with a police car 31 times. The Jaguar eventually stopped only when its battery charge was depleted.
Evidence presented in court included text messages from Owen’s phone discussing ways to get rid of the vehicle, including having it written off. He had also contacted a loan company for additional funds shortly before calling 999. The court heard that Owen had entered into a finance agreement in September 2023 and was approximately £5,000 in arrears by March 2024.
Sentencing Owen, Judge Ian Unsworth KC stated that Owen’s actions caused a significant police operation, public alarm, and disruption. He highlighted that officers placed themselves in danger due to the belief that they were responding to a genuine emergency, while Owen sought to profit from a lie.
Owen pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of fraud in June. He received a five-year driving ban, to commence after his release from custody. A charge of causing a public nuisance was ordered to lie on file.
Detective Constable Michael Doyle stated that investigations confirmed Owen was in full control of his vehicle and that his reckless actions endangered workers on the hard shoulder and other road users. The incident generated significant adverse media coverage, with Jaguar Land Rover UK reporting additional marketing costs to counter the publicity from the false allegations.