Biker led police on 180mph cross-country chase from London to Buckinghamshire

A teenager who reached speeds of 180mph in an extraordinary police chase from north London to Buckinghamshire is facing jail.

Marian Vasilica Dragoi, 19, drove through red lights and along the wrong side of the M1 in an increasingly desperate attempt to get away from pursuing officers.

The chase started in Green Lanes in Haringey on May 20, when Dragoi’s motorbike was clocked by officers investigating a separate incident and seen to have a false numberplate.

Met Police officers called in a helicopter to help track the bike, which was reaching speeds of 70mph in a 20mph zone, driving on the wrong side of the road, and ignoring a series of red traffic lights.

Once on the M1, Dragoi’s bike reached 150mph in Hertfordshire and was clocked going even faster – 180mph – when he reached Bedfordshire.

Running out of petrol, the runaway biker drove down the hard shoulder of the motorway in the wrong direction to get to a service station in Buckinghamshire.

However officers from Scotland Yard’s Operation Venice team were able to move in and capture him on the petrol station forecourt before he could finish refuelling, ending a chase which had lasted more than 30 minutes.

Dragoi was the owner of the motorbike but did not have a licence or insurance.

"At one point of the pursuit, Dragoi went straight through every single red light he was confronted with, rode on the wrong side of the road in his attempts to get away and even mounted pavements”, said Sergeant Tony McGovern.

“He failed to stop for police and continued to put his own life and the lives of other road users, as well as innocent pedestrians, into serious danger.

“Our highly trained Operation Venice officers are out on the streets of London every day fighting moped, scooter and motorbike enabled crimes and I hope this case acts as a deterrent to anyone considering to display such erratic behaviour on our roads."

Dragoi, from Tottenham, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving a motor vehicle without a licence, and driving without any insurance.

He is due to be sentenced at Wood Green crown court on January 14 next year.