A man who lives in the Bolton area has been jailed after admitting he invented a dramatic account of his Jaguar I‑Pace accelerating out of control as he travelled towards his then home. The false 999 call and subsequent media sales drew widespread attention and prompted a large police response across three motorways.
Fabricated emergency sparked multi-force response
On 6 March 2024 the defendant rang 999 and reported that his Jaguar was “gone rogue”, accelerating by itself and with brakes that were not working. Police located and brought the vehicle to a stop on the M62. Officers later concluded the account had been invented.
The driver, identified in court as 33‑year‑old Nathan Owen, admitted charges after an investigation. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of fraud by false representation. Proceedings took place at Liverpool Crown Court.
Financial motive and media sales
Prosecutors told the court the episode was driven by financial pressure. Owen had taken a finance agreement with CA Auto Finance UK for the Jaguar I‑Pace EV400 on 8 March 2023 and subsequently fell into arrears. He left his job as a teaching assistant in August 2023, and later lost another role at Swissport after a probationary period marked by frequent absences. Contact from finance companies over missed payments and a rejected top‑up loan contributed to his difficulties.
Court material also indicated Owen discussed disposing of the vehicle with a friend, who suggested making “a crash look not your fault”. The defendant went on to sell his fabricated account to two national newspapers, claiming he feared for his life, generating significant media coverage.
Impact on manufacturer and public services
Jaguar Land Rover has been named in court as having spent a substantial sum trying to counter the publicity arising from the false story. The prosecution said the manufacturer incurred £50 million addressing the widespread coverage.
The episode diverted considerable emergency resources across multiple motorways and involved a policing operation to stop the vehicle on the M62. The case underlines the real costs — both financial and operational — of fabricated emergencies.
- Date of incident: 6 March 2024
- Finance agreement dated: 8 March 2023
- Vehicle: Jaguar I‑Pace EV400
- Sentencing court: Liverpool Crown Court
“Make a crash look not your fault.”
Timeline
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| 8 March 2023 | Finance agreement for Jaguar I‑Pace EV400 granted by CA Auto Finance UK |
| August 2023 | Left role as a teaching assistant; subsequent employment at Swissport ended during probation |
| 6 March 2024 | 999 call reporting out‑of‑control car; vehicle stopped on M62 |
| 2026 (court date) | Admitted dangerous driving and fraud; sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court |
The sentence brings legal closure to a case that mixed road safety concerns with deliberate deception for financial ends. For communities here in Bolton, the affair is a reminder that not all dramatic incidents are what they first appear, and that false emergencies can carry heavy consequences for public services, victims of misinformation and for those who fabricate them.
Local drivers and residents seeking guidance about reporting genuinely dangerous driving should continue to call 999 in an emergency, and non‑urgent matters to move to 101 or the relevant online reporting channels.
