英国男子Nathan Owen因在高速公路上谎称车辆制动失效而被判入狱四年零三个月，并禁驾五年[1]。2024年3月6日，Owen驾驶一辆电动捷豹车在M58、M57和M62高速公路上以最高86英里每小时的速度驾驶约38英里，与警车碰撞31次，整个过程持续约35分钟[1]。
调查揭示Owen的真实目的是逃避约5000英镑的汽车金融债务。他在当天贷款申请被拒后数分钟内就拨打了999紧急求助电话[1]。技术检测表明该车制动系统运作正常，而且Owen从未踩踏制动踏板[1]。法官Ian Unsworth KC在宣判时表示："You, meanwhile, sought to profit from a lie."[1]
这起欺诈事件造成了广泛影响。捷豹路虎公司因虚假指控额外花费5000万英镑用于市场营销，共产生180篇负面媒体报道[1]。Owen随后从太阳报获得300英镑稿费，从每日邮报获得500英镑稿费[1]。Owen因危险驾驶和两项欺诈罪认罪[1]。
Nathan Owen has been jailed for four years and three months after deliberately causing a dangerous high-speed chase on British motorways by falsely claiming his vehicle's brakes had failed.[1] On March 6, 2024, Owen drove an electric Jaguar at speeds reaching 86 mph across the M58, M57, and M62 motorways for approximately 38 miles over 35 minutes, colliding with police vehicles 31 times in the process.[1] Owen pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and two counts of fraud.[1]
Investigation revealed that Owen's vehicle was functioning normally and that he had never pressed the brake pedal during the incident.[1] The real motivation behind his reckless actions was financial: Owen owed approximately 5,000 pounds on the car's finance agreement and called 999 emergency services just minutes after his loan application was rejected that day.[1] The false emergency triggered a massive police operation and caused significant public alarm.
The consequences extended far beyond Owen's criminal liability. Jaguar Land Rover UK incurred an additional 50 million pounds in marketing expenses to counter the false allegations, and the incident generated 180 negative media reports.[1] Owen later profited from his deception, receiving 300 pounds from The Sun newspaper and 500 pounds from the Daily Mail.[1] Judge Ian Unsworth KC criticized this behavior, stating: "You, meanwhile, sought to profit from a lie."[1] Owen has also been banned from driving for five years.[1]