BMW driver led police on 145mph chase on M40 and through Wycombe

Daniel King, 23, of Castle Street in High Wycombe, has been sentenced to one year in prison after he led officers on a 30-mile pursuit through Buckinghamshire.

Aylesbury Crown Court heard how King spent the “majority” of the pursuit driving at speeds in excess of 145mph, putting his own life and the lives of members of the public at risk.

As well as a jail sentence, King was also banned from driving for two years at the sentencing hearing on February 16.

On January 23, 2021, at around 3.50pm, King was spotted by police driving a BMW southbound on the M40. Officers requested the driver to stop but he carried on driving at Junction 6 (Watlington) – leading officers on a 40-minute pursuit.

Reaching dangerously high speeds, King continued on the M40 from Junction 6 to Junction 1 (Denham), where he turned around and continued back to Junction 4 (Handy Cross) where he came off the motorway and led officers through the streets of High Wycombe.

Daniel King led police on a 145mph chase along the M40

Police drivers remained in pursuit throughout and were aided by a police helicopter from the National Police Air Service.

King eventually crashed the car into bollards near some playing fields in the town. He jumped out of the BMW and attempted to flee the officers, who caught up with him and arrested him.

After crashing near some playing fields in High Wycombe King tried to escape on foot

After he was charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police and obstructing police, King pleaded guilty to all the offences.

PC Jonathan Housby, part of the Roads Policing unit, based at Taplow police station, said: “King led officers on a 30-mile pursuit and drove in excess of 145mph for the majority of the chase in an attempt to get away.

Officers were close behind King and chased him into the fields

“He put himself and the public at great risk but unfortunately for him he ran out of road and the pursuit ended up on foot across playing fields in High Wycombe.

“With assistance from the National Police Air Service, he was tracked down and apprehended.

Thermal imaging footage from a police helicopter shows King surrounded by officers as they arrest him

“This is a warning to criminals who come to the Thames Valley region that we will do all we can to put a stop people driving in such a reckless and dangerous way.”

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