Man who claimed Jaguar's brakes failed at 100mph on the M62 jailed - RECAP
Nathan Owen claimed his Jaguar I‑Pace was accelerating on its own and unresponsive to the brakes, leading to a 35‑minute pursuit on the M62 and a four‑year jail sentence.
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On 6 March 2024, a 33‑year‑old from Prestatyn, North Wales, set a motorway in motion that would lead to a four‑year jail term. Nathan Owen, who had been employed as a children’s crisis support worker, told 999 that his Jaguar I‑Pace was “accelerating on its own” and “unresponsive to the brakes”. The claim triggered a 35‑minute police pursuit on the eastbound carriageway of the M62, with Merseyside Police’s Matrix unit boxing the vehicle between junctions 11 and 12. The chase ended when officers rammed the car, bringing it to a halt in a hard shoulder on the motorway’s high‑speed lane. No one was injured, but the incident caused a major traffic operation and widespread alarm.
Owen’s story was not an isolated accident. He later admitted to dangerous driving on both the M57 and M62, and he faced two fraud charges. One alleged that he made false representations to CA Auto Finance, claiming the Jaguar had “accelerated on its own with the brakes unresponsive” in order to obtain a financial gain of £4 426.49. The other charge concerned a false report to the S*n newspaper and the Daily Mail, an attempt to “cause loss to Jaguar Land Rover” or expose the company to risk.
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Police evidence was decisive. Vehicle data was downloaded and analysed by Jaguar Land Rover, who found no defect that could explain the alleged malfunction. The car’s braking and acceleration systems performed as intended. The investigation also revealed that Owen was actively seeking to dispose of the car: he had contacted the finance company 40 minutes after the incident, and he had sold the false story to the S*n for £300 and the Daily Mail for £500. The total balance on the vehicle’s finance at the time was £39 823.
At Liverpool Crown Court on 3 August 2024, Judge Ian Unsworth KC delivered a sentencing that reflected the dual nature of the offence. He acknowledged the “sophisticated nature of the offence and sophisticated planning” that underpinned the fraud. The judge also highlighted the wider impact on Jaguar Land Rover, noting that the company had to divert an estimated £50 million to a marketing campaign to counter the negative publicity, and that the cost of inspecting the vehicle was some £10 000. “Plainly this involved a fraud of some sophistication,” the judge said.
Owen was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, reduced by 15 % from the five‑year maximum because of his guilty plea. He was also banned from driving for five years, a period that will be counted against his custodial sentence. In addition, he will be required to pass an extended retest before he can be reinstated to the road.
The judge praised the bravery and professionalism of the police officers involved, describing them as “extremely brave, courageous and professional.” He also commended DC Michael Doyle for his exhaustive analysis that helped uncover the fraud.
While Owen has no prior convictions, the judge noted his guilty plea and the lack of subsequent offences as mitigating factors. Nevertheless, the judge stated that the dangerous driving and fraud were not isolated; the dangerous driving gave the fraud credibility, and the fraud provided the motive for the dangerous driving.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 6 March 2024 | Owen reports Jaguar malfunction to 999; 35‑minute pursuit on M62; vehicle boxed by police. |
| Mid‑March 2024 | Owen contacts CA Auto Finance and attempts to top up loan; claims vehicle defective. |
| 25 June 2024 | Owen pleads guilty to fraud and dangerous driving charges. |
| 3 August 2024 | Sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court; judge imposes four years, three months. |
