Man jailed after driving 105mph in Warrington residential area

Nathan Batha drove his black Audi at more than 100mph in Woolston in the early hours of Sunday, December 13.

And on Wednesday he was jailed with police saying it was lucky nobody was hurt.

He had three passengers in his car at the time.

An officer from Cheshire Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit spotting the car travelling at excess speed through Junction 17 of the M6 northbound in Sandbach at around 3.50am.

He pursued the vehicle, which reached speeds over 150mph before hitting several cones and entering a coned off area of the motorway.

The officer was forced to stop chasing the car for safety reasons, after witnessing it overtake and undertake other vehicles at excessive speed.

A colleague in the Roads and Crime Unit driving an unmarked police car subsequently followed the Audi, as did a Merseyside Police officer.

After it had exited the motorway at Junction 21, the officers witnessed the Audi travel along the A57 Manchester Road in Warrington at more than 105mph.

It went through a red traffic light at over 100mph on the road with a 40mph speed limit.

The officer who originally pursued the car was lying in wait on Manchester Road with a stinger, thanks to his communications with his colleagues.

It was successfully deployed, bursting one of the Audi’s tyres.

Despite having a flat tyre, Batha, from Staffordshire, continued to attempt to flee the officers.

After going around a roundabout in the wrong direction at Junction 21 of the M6, the Audi he was driving was boxed in by the officers on the slip road leading to the northbound side of the motorway.

The teen drove at over 150mph on the motorway

Batha, 19, was arrested and interviewed in custody.

He refused to answer any questions but with officers having dashcam footage of his driving offences, Batha had little option other than to admit the charges.

The 19 year old was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday and was jailed for 12 months.

He was also disqualified from driving for four and a half years.

He tested positive for cocaine in a roadside test but a blood test proved inconclusive. He says other people were smoking cocaine in the car so he was never charged with drug driving.​

He has a six month old baby.

Recorder Ian Harris said: "This was the worst driving of its kind that has not caused a fatality I have seen in many years.

"You did not exceed, but shatter speed limits on A roads.

"Your behaviour behind the wheel of a high powered car was life threatening.

"I have considered every possible sentence, considering your age and no previous convictions, to avoid a young offender institution, but I regret to say I cannot."

Police Constable Chris Jones, who led the investigation into the driving offences at Cheshire Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit, said: “Thankfully no-one was injured as a result of Nathan Batha’s dangerous driving on both the M6 and in a residential area of Warrington.

‘‘The consequences of this incident could have been far worse.

“Speed limits are in place for a reason – travelling at an unsafe speed is one of the main causes of deaths on our roads.

“By speeding on the M6, and then driving at over 150mph on the motorway and over 105pm on a road with a 40mph limit in a bid to escape punishment for the manner of his driving, Batha put his life and the lives of other road users at risk.

“Thankfully, our pursuit of him, aided by a colleague at Merseyside Police, was brought to a safe conclusion and Batha is now facing the consequences of his actions.

“I hope that this case deters others from driving dangerously in Cheshire and failing to stop for the police.”

Superintendent Jon Betts, head of Cheshire Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit, added: “We take dangerous driving offences very seriously at the force and anyone found travelling dangerously at excess speed will be dealt with robustly.

“Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege, not a right, and it comes with great responsibility to act within the rules laid down when you pass your test.

“When you deliberately ignore those rules, you put yourself and other people at considerable risk.’’