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Jail for 180mph M6 chase driver Ben Westwood | Jail for 180mph M6 chase driver Ben Westwood |
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A man caught doing 180mph in a police chase on the M6 in the West Midlands has been jailed for nine years. | A man caught doing 180mph in a police chase on the M6 in the West Midlands has been jailed for nine years. |
Ben Westwood, of Woden Road, Wednesfield, is thought to be the fastest driver to be caught in the UK. | Ben Westwood, of Woden Road, Wednesfield, is thought to be the fastest driver to be caught in the UK. |
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how during the 65-mile chase in January Westwood, 33, almost outpaced the police helicopter, in a stolen car. | Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how during the 65-mile chase in January Westwood, 33, almost outpaced the police helicopter, in a stolen car. |
Westwood was found guilty of dangerous driving and conspiracy to burgle and steal earlier this month. | Westwood was found guilty of dangerous driving and conspiracy to burgle and steal earlier this month. |
The court heard how the modified Audi RS5, worth £85,000, was stolen from Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire. | |
Police said the car was then linked to 16 raids across Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands, including incidents at a bowling alley and a jewellers. | Police said the car was then linked to 16 raids across Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands, including incidents at a bowling alley and a jewellers. |
The raids took place between August 2011 and January 2012. | The raids took place between August 2011 and January 2012. |
Sparks seen | Sparks seen |
The chase on 13 January took place after a raid on the Murco petrol station in Warstones Road, Wolverhampton. | |
Westwood headed towards the M6 and joined the motorway, where he headed north up to junction 13 at Stafford before turning around and then heading southbound back down the motorway. | |
In footage recorded from the police helicopter, sparks were seen coming from underneath the car because of the speed at which it was going. | |
The footage from the helicopter shows how Westwood tried to avoid a sting trap set down by police on the sliproad at junction 12. | |
He can then be seen doing a U-turn, driving the car the wrong way up the sliproad before joining the main carriageway again. | |
Westwood abandoned the car at a block of flats in Pickering Road, Wednesfield, where police dogs tracked him into some flats and he was arrested. | |
Supt Richard Baker said Westwood had shown "a blatant disregard for other road users". | |
He added: "Video footage from the helicopter estimates speeds of up to 180mph on the M6 as he attempted to evade capture." |