A 23-year-old Nigerian, Michael Chiedu Nwanze, has been sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment in the United Kingdom after leading police on a high-speed chase through Northampton in an attempt to evade arrest.

Nwanze was sentenced by Northampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and failing to stop for police.

According to a statement issued by Northamptonshire Police, the incident occurred on March 10 when officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Nwanze after it was identified as uninsured.

Rather than complying with police instructions, Nwanze accelerated away, weaving through the streets of Northampton before joining the A45 towards Wellingborough, where the pursuit continued.

Police said he repeatedly ignored traffic lights, drove at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour in 40mph zones, and exceeded 100mph on the dual carriageway, placing motorists and pedestrians at serious risk.

The pursuit ended near the Wilby Way roundabout after heavy traffic prevented him from escaping. While attempting to force his way through the congestion, Nwanze collided with several vehicles before officers boxed in his car and arrested him at the scene.

He later pleaded guilty before Northampton Crown Court in April and was sentenced in June.

Reacting to the conviction, the investigating officer, PC Thomas Williams of Northamptonshire Police’s Roads Policing Team, described Nwanze’s actions as reckless and dangerous.

“Nwanze’s actions that day showed a complete disregard for the safety of other road users and pedestrians,” Williams said.

He added that the defendant’s excessive speed, disregard for traffic signals and desperate attempt to avoid arrest endangered countless innocent road users.

“Dangerous driving of this nature can have devastating consequences, and it is only by good fortune that nobody was seriously injured as a result of his behaviour that day,” he said.

Williams reaffirmed the force’s commitment to tackling dangerous driving and enforcing road traffic laws.

“We will continue to proactively target those who use our roads illegally and dangerously, and I hope this sentence sends a clear message that this type of offending will not be tolerated,” he added.

The conviction is the latest in a series of cases involving Nigerian nationals sentenced by UK courts in recent months, including convictions related to child grooming, cryptocurrency fraud and other serious offences.