Man jailed after faking M62 emergency claiming car wouldn't stop
Nathan Owen falsely claimed his Jaguar had malfunctioned, driving across three motorways
A driver who claimed his electric car had malfunctioned on a busy motorway, leaving him unable to stop, has been jailed after his story was proven false.
Nathan Owen, now thirty-three, told Merseyside Police his Jaguar I-PACE had malfunctioned at around 2.10pm on Wednesday 6th March 2024.
He'd been driving along the M58 towards his then-home in Bolton, before turning around and calling 999 as he headed back towards Liverpool.
Owen's journey continued from the M58 onto the M57 and then the M62, before the car eventually stopped near junction twelve at Birchwood.
Car was working properly
An investigation by Merseyside Police and Jaguar Land Rover found the car had been working correctly throughout, and was in Owen's control the whole time.
Data showed he never pressed the brakes, despite telling the 999 operator that he had.
Police said the car only came to a stop because it ran out of charge.
Owen was arrested days later but denied fabricating the story, maintaining the vehicle was faulty.
Debts and text messages
An investigation into his finances found high levels of personal debt and missed payments on the car's finance agreement.
Officers also recovered text messages from before the incident, showing Owen discussing ways to get rid of the car, including having it written off.
He was charged with fraud and dangerous driving, and pleaded guilty at a pre-trial review in June.
Jailed for four years
Owen, of The Grove in Prestatyn, North Wales, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to four years and three months in prison.
He was also banned from driving for five years, and must pass an extended driving test before getting back behind the wheel.
Detective Constable Michael Doyle said the investigation had been "lengthy and complex," but had proven Owen was in full control of the vehicle throughout.
He added: "By his own admission there were workers on the hard shoulder of the motorway and he clearly put them and other road users in danger with his reckless actions."