A driver who claimed his electric Jaguar had gone "rogue" on the motorway has appeared in court after being charged with fraud.

Nathan Owen, from North Wales, reported a major fault with his Jaguar I-Pace on the motorway in March last year, prompting an urgent intervention by Merseyside Police.

He claimed that this car was speeding out of control and that the brakes had stopped working while travelling at high speeds.

Police were forced to assist the 32-year-old by intercepting the runaway vehicle after travelling on the eastbound carriageways of the M57, M62 and M58 motorways, eventually bringing it to a stop.

The owner of the 'rogue' Jaguar appeared in court earlier this week

Throughout the incident, North West Motorway Police closed lanes three and four on the M62 between Junction 11 for Birchwood and Junction 12 for Eccles.

Mr Owen, from Prestatyn, explained his fears when inside the car, saying he did not want to hit another road user or end up dying himself.

However, in the aftermath of the event, the driver was charged with dangerous driving, intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance and two counts of fraud.

He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court earlier this week, where he indicated not guilty pleas.

The Jaguar I-Pace | JAGUAR

It has been alleged that he made a false representation to CA Auto Finance that the Jaguar was faulty, as well as being accused of intending to cause loss to Jaguar Land Rover.

Prosecutor Renee Southern told the court that it was the Crown's case that Mr Owen had "persistently and dishonestly" claimed the vehicle was defective.

She claimed that the motorist wanted to "get rid" of the vehicle to avoid further payments to the finance company, which totalled more than £4,400.

Mr Owen was released on unconditional bail to attend a further hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on September 10. He is expected to enter formal pleas.

Merseyside Police said: "We have charged a man following an incident involving a black Jaguar I-Pace car on the M62 in March 2024.

"On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 6, officers from the force's roads policing unit were called to help stop a vehicle safely on the eastbound carriageway after the driver called 999, reporting his vehicle was out of control and he could not brake while travelling on the M58/M57 and M62 motorways.

"Following an extensive investigation, we have charged Nathan Owen, 32, of The Grove, Prestatyn, North Wales, with dangerous driving, causing a public nuisance and two counts of fraud by false representation."

Commenting on the case, a spokesperson for Jaguar Land Rover said it had been working extensively alongside Merseyside Police and other authorities.

They added: "We understand an individual has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and causing a public nuisance, relating to the incident on the M62 on Wednesday, March 6."

The spokesperson told GB News that Jaguar Land Rover aims to investigate all issues relating to the safety of its products.

They added that JLR would continue to work alongside Merseyside Police and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).