Driver who led police on car chase arrested after escaping them, then reporting vehicle as stolen

Officers attend Warren Gray's address after he escaped during high-speed chase which saw him seek refuge in a field

A driver led police on a car chase before ringing them hours later to say his vehicle had been stolen - leading to his arrest.

A four-minute video showed Warren Gray driving through red lights in a busy city centre while being tailed by police cars.

Gray, 33, at one point drove across a central reservation into oncoming traffic while behind the wheel of his Suzuki Vitara in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, last year.

He drove between bollards while mounting the pavement and sped through residential areas at 70mph without his lights on.

Road policing sergeant Lee Beck said: “Gray’s actions were not only dangerous but incredibly selfish and thoughtless, he gave no consideration for anyone but himself, putting other people’s lives potentially at risk.”

The police pursuit began after an unmarked patrol car ran a check on the vehicle which had no registered owner.

After PC Nicola Jones turned on the blue lights of her police car, Gray drove off, sparking a police chase with four vehicles attempting to box him in.

Nine minutes later Gray jumped out of his vehicle and sought refuge in a nearby field where officers could not find him.

After five hours, Gray reported his car as stolen.

Officers attended his address and arrested him after identifying him as the driver of the vehicle.

Gray, of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was charged with driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and committing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice.

He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a three-day trial.

Gray was jailed for two years and four months after the chase on 30 June last year.

Sergeant Beck added: “His foolish attempt to ‘cover his tracks’ by reporting his vehicle as stolen just hours later landed him 12-months of his prison sentence, followed by 16-months for the dangerous driving and an additional five months to run at the same time for the disqualification.

“Gray could very easily have caused a serious, if not fatal collision that morning due to his reckless behaviour and negligence on the road.”

SWNS