Dramatic 165mph late-night police chase – involving armed officers and helicopter – ended with a car crashing in a Harborough village

A dramatic 165mph late-night police chase on the M1 – involving armed officers and the regional police helicopter – ended with a car crashing in a Harborough village.

Five teenage boys ran away but were quickly tracked down and arrested after the high-powered Audi S3 hatchback crashed on the A4304 in Theddingworth, near Market Harborough.

The high-speed pursuit came to an end in Harborough district after being carried out by five police forces – West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire – late on Sunday night.

Leicestershire Police Road Policing Unit (RPU) said yesterday (Monday) that they were involved in the 165mph pursuit down the M1 from Derbyshire.

The specialist police squad said four “occupants” were detained after the smash in Theddingworth while the fifth was found hiding in bushes by police dog Spike.

“NPAS assisted the ARV (armed response vehicle) and RPU in detaining four occupants and then the final one was located hidden in bushes by Spike,” said the RPU unit.

“Unbelievable speeds and sheer luck no one was seriously injured or worse.”

Derbyshire Police said a man has now been accused of serious driving charges after the incident which stretched through four counties.

“West Yorkshire Police notified us of an Audi S3, which they had allegedly seen driving at excessing speed," said Derbyshire Police.

“Our officers saw the car on the M1 near Tibshelf, just before midnight last night, (Sunday), and followed it.

“The vehicle allegedly continued to drive at more than 100mph and officers on the ground were joined by a police helicopter.”

“The Audi stopped in Theddingworth, Leicestershire, and four teenagers and a 19-year-old man were arrested by colleagues from Leicestershire Police.”

The boys - two aged 16 and two aged 17 - were questioned and released under investigation while police inquiries continue.

The four teenagers are all from Luton.

Usman Kiani, 19, of Cobden Street, Luton, was charged with failing to stop for the police, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. Kiani is due to appear before Derby magistrates on Wednesday May 26.

You can watch amazing footage of the Audi S3 speeding past an unmarked police car on Derbyshire Police Twitter page here: https://twitter.com/DerbyshireRPU/status/1386590004332408832