Dangerous driver jailed after crashing Mini near site of West Midlands scene from The Italian Job
A man from the West Midlands has been jailed after crashing his Mini near the site of a popular 1969 bank heist movie.
Leslie Cook, 60, from Coventry, has been jailed for 10 months after he was spotted driving a Mini at high speed in and around the Stoke Aldermoor area in August last year.
West Midlands Police's dog unit sergeant John Simpson pursued the vehicle before it was eventually hit by a stinger used by sergeant Dale Hughes, from the city's ANPR team.
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The 60-year-old then abandoned the vehicle and was caught by Sergeant Simpson with the assistance of his loyal hound, Police Dog Ugo, just a short distance from where the iconic Mini scene from the 1969 hit film, The Italian Job.
Cooke was arrested and charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop, and later pleaded guilty in court last month.
Now, the 60-year-old has been jailed for 10 months, as well as being handed a driving ban.
A force 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."
