A DANGEROUS driver has been jailed after he crashed a Mini in Coventry – near the site of an iconic scene from The Italian Job.
Coventry man Leslie Cooke, 60, has been jailed for 10 months for dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving.
Cooke was spotted driving a Mini at high speed in and around Stoke Aldermoor in August this year.
Dogs unit Sgt John Simpson pursued the car before it was hit by a stinger used by Sgt Dale Hughes from the city’s ANPR unit.
Cooke abandoned the car and was caught by Sgt Simpson and PD Ugo, just a short distance from where the iconic Mini tunnel scene from the 1969 film The Italian Job was filmed.
Cooke was arrested and charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop, pleading guilty at court last month.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “The leading causes of serious injury and death on UK roads are speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seat belt and using a mobile phone while driving.
“We are committed to making our roads safer and are taking regular action against dangerous driving, as well as vehicle crime in the West Midlands.”
