4 days ago
Driver who claimed his electric Jaguar I-Pace accelerated 'on its own' on the motorway appears in court accused of fraud
A motorist who claimed his luxury electric car accelerated 'on its own' on the motorway has made his first appearance in court charged with fraud.
Nathan Owen, 32, from Prestatyn, North Wales, called police for assistance on March 6 last year to report his Jaguar I-Pace vehicle was speeding out of control and the brakes were not working.
Officers scrambled to intercept the vehicle, which had travelled along the eastbound carriageways of the M57, M62 and M58 motorways.
Patrols from Merseyside Police 's Matrix unit were called out in order to safely stop the vehicle on the eastbound carriageway of the motorway, ultimately bringing it to a halt between junction 11 for Birchwood, Warrington, and junction 12 at Eccles, The Liverpool Echo reported.
On Wednesday, Owen attended Liverpool Magistrates' Court where he indicated not guilty pleas to dangerous driving, intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and two counts of fraud.
One charge of fraud meanwhile accuses Owen of falsely informing a car finance company, CA Auto Finance, that his Jaguar I-PACE was 'accelerating on its own', with its brakes also being 'unresponsive', in order to make a gain of more than £4,000.
It is also said that he made the same claims to several national newspapers, with the intention of causing loss to the Jaguar company or exposing it to risk of loss.
Prosecutor Renee Southern told the court that it was the Crown's case that the defendant had 'persistently and dishonestly' claimed the vehicle was defective.
She said Owen wanted to 'get rid' of the vehicle and thus avoid further payments totalling £4,426 to the finance company.
Police made manoeuvres to box the Jaguar in, which led to motorway closures and substantial delays, the court heard.
Appearing in the dock wearing a black zip-up top and glasses and sporting short dark hair and a beard, he spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth before pleading not guilty to all four counts.
Owen, of The Grove, was released on unconditional bail to attend a further hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on September 10, when he is expected to enter formal pleas.
