Fuellish teen guilty
180mph rider caught at the pumps awaits court sentencing
‘At one point he went through every red light’
SGT TONY MCGOVERN
Ateenager from London has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving a motor vehicle without a licence, and driving without insurance after a 180mph pursuit through four counties.
Marian Vasilica Dragoi, 19, was eventually arrested at a service station - where he stopped to refuel after riding the wrong way on the M1 - on suspicion of theft of a motorcycle. Dragoi turned out to be the rightful owner of the bike, but it was displaying a false number plate and he had no licence allowing him to ride it.
Officers from Operation Venice were dealing with an unrelated incident in May when Dragoi and a number of other riders cut across their path. During the following pursuit Dragoi was clocked riding at speeds of 70mph in a 20 zone, running red lights, riding on the wrong side of roads and on pavements. The National Police Air Service helicopter was called in when the police cars lost sight of him and he was subsequently clocked at 150mph on the M1 in Hertfordshire and 180mph in Bedfordshire. Officers were able to swoop in and make an arrest before Dragoi managed to fill up at the garage forecourt.
“At one point of the pursuit, Dragoi went straight through every single red light he was confronted with, rode on the wrong side of the road in his attempts to get away and even mounted pavements,” said arresting officer, Sergeant Tony McGovern, from the Met’s Operation Venice Command. “Throughout the pursuit, he continued to ride in a dangerous manner, and he only had the NPAS helicopter tracking him without any police vehicles on the ground anywhere near him. He failed to stop for police and put the lives of other road users into serious danger.
“Our highly trained Operation Venice officers are out on the streets of London every day fighting moped, scooter and motorbike enabled crimes and I hope this case acts as a deterrent to anyone considering such erratic behaviour on our roads.” Dragoi will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on January 14 next year.