Shock photo shows a crashed mini abandoned at the spot where the Italian job was filmed in the West Midlands
A shock photo has been released of a mini crashed by a reckless driver who abandoned the car at the same West Midlands spot where the Italian job was filmed
A crashed mini has been caught on camera crashed at the same spot that the critically-acclaimed Italian Job movie was filmed in the West Midlands.
The shock photo has been released by West Midlands Police officers who revealed the bizarre coincidence after its driver was jailed for reckless driving.
Leslie Cooke, 60, was being pursued by police after being spotted driving a red Mini Cooper at high speed around Coventry.
Officers eventually used a stinger to burst the tyres before Cooke crashed the car in Stoke Aldermoor.
He fled on foot but was caught by a police dog nearby last August.
Cooke was jailed for ten months at Coventry Crown Court after he admitted dangerous driving and failing to stop.
The Italian Job movie was released in 1969 and told the story of Charlie Croker’s gang of crooks stealing $4million of gold bullion from armoured vans in Turin – before making their escape in three Minis painted red, white and blue, the colours of the Union Jack.
The resulting chase with the Italian police is often voted as one of the best-ever in the history of movies.
The movie’s iconic scene of the Minis driving through the sewers under Turin was actually filmed in Stoke Aldermoor.
The film was also responsible for producing some of the most famous movie quotes ever, including: "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" And Michael Caine’s final line: "Hang on a minute, lads; I've got a great idea."
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “Cooke abandoned the car and was caught by Sgt Simpson and PD Ugo just a short distance from where the iconic Mini scene from the 1969 film The Italian Job was filmed.
“The leading causes of serious injury and death on UK roads are speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearin
