Swindon BMW driver led police on 'world's slowest chase'

Adam Wrobel, 53, was pursued by cops at a sedate speed for a mile down a busy Swindon road while his tyres continued to shed - before it ended when he tried to ram them and crashed into a bus stop.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday (14 April) but avoided an immediate jail term.

The court heard he was pulled over by a police officer in Swindon after they spotted two tyres were deflated on his swerving BMW X1 at around 1pm on January 27.

Wrobel's tyres were completely shredded by the end of the pursuit (Image: SWNS)

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said the defendant initially stopped to speak with the officer – who started to issue a traffic offence report for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

However, when checks revealed that Wrobel should be wearing glasses as a driver and that his black SUV was going to be seized, he turned the engine back on and attempted to flee.

Backup was called into the area as a police pursuit was authorised. He led officers on a one-mile-long chase along Dorcan Way at around 15mph as rubber continued to fly from his tyres.

Mr Ballinger said Wrobel was unable to drive the BMW in a straight line and lumps of rubber were coming off the tyres. In the end, police had to use a stinger to puncture the remaining tyres.

But running on the rims, he continued to try and evade officers – who eventually boxed him in along The Drive. He attempted to break out of the containment, hitting a police vehicle and a bus stop.

Wrobel's BMW X1 was boxed in by police officers (Image: SWNS)

Wrobel was, moments later, detained on the ground and taken into custody. In an interview, he told officers he ‘just wanted to get home’ and suggested that his driving was not dangerous as he was moving slowly.

Gordon Hotson, defending, said the pursuit “can only be described as the world’s slowest police chase”, and that he had provided Wrobel with some “blunt advice”.

Magistrates imposed a 16-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He must complete 25 rehabilitation activity days and 180 hours of unpaid work.

Wroble was also given an 18-month driving ban, and must take an extended re-test before obtaining his licence back.

Speaking after the case, A/Insp Will Ayres of Wiltshire Police said: “The sentence given reflects the seriousness of the driver’s actions.

"He was driving a vehicle which was clearly in a dangerous condition and completely unroadworthy – the vehicle was totally devoid of any rubber on the front near side tyre which was leaving grooves in the road surface as a result.

“Wrobel then went on to ram a police vehicle in an attempt to evade capture, putting other road users and pedestrians at risk.

"It was extremely fortunate that nobody was waiting at the bus stop at the time, as this could have had extremely tragic consequences.”