Key facts
- Nathan Owen fabricated a story about his electric Jaguar's brakes failing to avoid car payments.
- He drove at speeds up to 86mph on motorways for 35 minutes, colliding with police vehicles.
- Investigations confirmed the car was functioning correctly and Owen had not used the brakes.
- Owen was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for dangerous driving and fraud.
- Jaguar Land Rover incurred £50m in additional marketing costs due to the negative publicity.
Nathan Owen has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison for orchestrating a dangerous stunt where he falsely claimed his electric Jaguar I-Pace had brake failure and was out of control. The 33-year-old drove the vehicle at speeds up to 86mph on motorways in Merseyside for approximately 35 minutes, covering 38 miles, while repeatedly colliding with police cars attempting to stop him. Owen's ploy was intended to avoid paying off his car finance, as he had significant personal debt and had been denied a loan on the day of the incident. He even called 999 while stationary, claiming the car was accelerating uncontrollably. Investigations by Merseyside Police and Jaguar Land Rover confirmed the vehicle was functioning correctly and that Owen had not applied the brakes. Following the incident, Owen sold his story to tabloid newspapers for £800. Judge Ian Unsworth KC described Owen's actions as "frighteningly stupid" and noted the significant police operation, public alarm, and substantial loss incurred by others, including Jaguar Land Rover, which spent an additional £50m in marketing to counter the adverse publicity generated by the false allegations. Owen pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of fraud and received a five-year driving ban upon his release.