Driver goes full GTA after stealing taxi and going on 130mph chase | UK News

A man clocked up speeds of more than 130mph after he stole a taxi from Gatwick Airport and led police on a dangerous GTA-style pursuit.

When a cab driver refused to take Mohammed Ahmed, he decided to jump in another empty taxi parked outside the South Terminal and flee.

The owner of the unattended Mercedes taxi had momentarily gone inside the airport to collect a fare and had left the keys in the ignition.

Ahmed, 24, pounced on the opportunity to take the vehicle, went to the victim’s home address to discard ID documents and raced towards the M23.

Police were alerted to the stolen taxi and laid chase as Ahmed drove almost double the speed limit, swerved onto the hard shoulder and through cordoned off areas with roadworks.

Officers followed Ahmed along the M25 and M40 and used a stinger, but despite losing a tyre, he continued to speed at more than 100mph with sparks flying off the wheel.

His driving was so reckless, road cops eventually had to give up the hunt because of the serious risk to other motorists.

But the National Police Air Service helicopter continued to track Ahmed’s movements as he drove 160 miles all the way back to his hometown of Walsall, West Midlands.

He was followed by the chopper on the M42 and M6 before reaching the A34.

On his journey, he continued to drive like a maniac, hitting 70mph in a 30mph zone, going the wrong way around roundabouts, through red lights and on the wrong side of the road into oncoming traffic.

Both the Thames Valley Police and Warwickshire Police forces were informed of Ahmed’s brazen getaway attempt.

The long-winded escape effort eventually came to an end when he drove down a dead-end cul-de-sac in Rowley Place, Walsall.

Footage from the police helicopter showed him getting out of the car and attempting to run away across Rushall Park.

But he then tripped as he tried to jump over a small metal barrier.

Shortly after, he’s seen surrendering to officers before being arrested.

Following an investigation, he was charged with aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving for the incident on September 17 last year.

Ahmed, unemployed of Heather Avenue, Walsall, appeared before Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on Friday.

He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work as part of a 14-month suspended prison sentence.

The court ordered him to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions and pay £841.53 in compensation to the taxi driver.

He must also pay £425 court costs and a victim surcharge of £187.

Speaking after the case detective inspector Darren Lillywhite, of Sussex Police, said: ‘Ahmed had been refused a fare when he decided to take the taxi outside the South Terminal.

‘His driving was so reckless that police were not able to continue pursuing him because of the risk it posed to other road users and officers.

‘Our colleagues from NPAS tracked him, and fortunately our colleagues from Warwickshire Police RPU were able to catch him and make the arrest.

‘Ahmed is very lucky not to have caused serious harm to either himself, our officers, or other road users. His driving was appalling.’

Earlier this year, a driver was filmed ramming a police car after going on a 135mph chase.

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