Gym owner reported car stolen after 150mph police chase

Lee Ablitt reached shocking speeds on the M6 and M62 in his powerful sports car and was observed flying through two sets of red traffic lights.

After learning of police’s intention to prosecute him for his selfish driving, the 47-year-old reported his car as stolen in an attempt to evade justice.

But officers saw through his deception and hauled him before Liverpool Crown Court after charging him with dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

Here, he was told his prolonged bad driving and disregard for other road users was so serious that only immediate custody was appropriate punishment.

Gareth Bellis, prosecuting, explained how at around 9.05pm on October 30, police officers were on patrol in a marked police car on the M6 northbound just past junction 20 for Lymm.

In the distance they noticed the defendant’s grey BMW M3 competition car under and overtaking other vehicles at speed.

They recorded his speed as being in excess of 120mph going over Thelwall Viaduct and attempted to catch up to him, but he exited the motorway at junction 21a for the M62 westbound before they could activate their emergency equipment.

Ablitt was travelling in excess of 100mph when exiting the motorway at junction nine for Winwick, where he then went through two sets of red traffic lights.

Ablitt drove at speed in excess of 120mph going over Thelwall Viaduct (Image: Google Maps) (Image: Google Maps)

He then re-joined the M62 heading towards Liverpool, pulling away from police doing more than double the speed limit in excess of 150mph.

Officers lost sight of the vehicle in the distance, however they were later able to identify the vehicle’s registration using ANPR cameras on the M6 and M62.

Having obtained vehicle and insurance details, they discovered that it was registered to the defendant at his home address in Newton-le-Willows.

Officers attended but the defendant was not home, nor was the car, so they left details with defendant’s family.

The following day at 9.55pm, the defendant contacted Cheshire Police and reported his car as stolen at the time it was observed being driven dangerously.

Ablitt also received a letter of intended prosecution through the post, but completed part two of the form stating that he was not driving at the time because the car had been stolen.

He maintained this lie until January 8 under police interview after being arrested, when he admitted being the driver, traveling in excess of 150mph and contravening red lights.

He said that a mate told him to repot his car as stolen, and that he knew it was wrong at the time.

Mr Bellis told the court how Ablitt has a number of previous convictions dating back to his time as a juvenile in 1987 to his last conviction in 2011.

Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Among these convictions is a prison sentence in 1996 for dangerous driving, while the court was also told that he had nine points on his licence at the time of the 2020 incident.

Sarah Griffin, defending, pointed to the result custody would have on the defendant’s gym business, stating: “Immediate custody could have a harmful impact on the wider community if the gym was to close.”

She added: “His full and frank admissions go some way to demonstrate his remorse and regret for his actions.

“I mercifully ask the court to take into account that no one was injured and no damage was caused.”

Ms Griffin also noted that no one else was arrested as a result of the lies told by the defendant.

But this was not enough to sway judge Neil Flewitt into suspending her client’s sentence due to the seriousness of his offending.

Ablitt, of Dixon Avenue in Newton-le-Willows, but originally from the Warrington area, was sentenced to six months in prison and disqualified from driving for two years.

He was also told he must pass an extended retest before driving again and pay a victim surcharge.