Coventry man jailed over 130mph chase in stolen car

Brendan Bagley also went on the run before eventually being brought to justice



A Coventry man who led police on a 130mph chase in a stolen car with fake plates - with his two brothers in the vehicle - was jailed for 15 months.

The chase along the M5 began when Brendan Bagley refused to stop for police and saw him ram the Ford Mondeo in to one police car, injuring an officer.

Even when a stinger was deployed and one of the car's tyres popped, Bagley continued to drive recklessly before the car was finally abandoned on the hard shoulder and he and his two passengers ran off in to a nearby field.

All three were soon found after a police dog joined the search.

In his continued bid to avoid justice, Bagley, 21, of Hawker Close, Stoke Aldermoor, went on the run and failed to show at court earlier this year before finally being arrested last month and placed in custody.

He was yesterday jailed for 15 months after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and having no licence at Gloucester Crown Court.

Bagley was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to pass an extended re-test.

Bagley "must have seen the police car on the motorway bridge, as his reaction was to increase his speeds to over 130mph", said prosecutor James Haskell.

Mr Haskell said Bagley had his first conviction aged 12, and now at 21 had 13 previous convictions recorded against him.

As well as driving offences, there were also offences relating to drugs and theft, the prosecutor told the judge.

The judge heard that Bagley had not attended court when Watters and Paul Bagley had been sentenced to eight and nine months jail respectively on separate dates in April, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

15 months? 5 years might be more appropriate!