Jailed: Rugeley teenager hit more than 150mph in Audi trying to flee police on M6

Nathan Batha, from Rugeley, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in Cheshire, failing to stop for police and driving without insurance.

The charges related to the 19-year-old's driving of a black Audi in the early hours on Sunday, December 13.

An officer from Cheshire Constabulary’s roads and crime unit spotted 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.

WATCH: Nathan Batha hits 158mph trying to flee police

The officer was forced to stop pursuing 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 in a 40mph section.

But 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, of Watkiss Drive, continued to attempt to flee the officers.

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

Batha was arrested and interviewed in custody. He refused to answer any questions, but with officers having dashcam footage of his driving, Batha was always going to be charged and he had little option other than to admit the charges.

He was jailed for 12 months at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday.

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.”