Teenager sped at 180mph to try and avoid being caught by police

Marian Vasilica Dragoi has pleaded guilty to several offences after making off from officers in north London on the evening of May 20 this year.

Dragoi topped 180mph as he sped along the M1 through Greater London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, before being caught and arrested at a petrol station after stopping for fuel.

Dragoi is arrested by police at the petrol station. Credit: Met Police

Video footage of Dragoi released by the Met

Police say he also rode through multiple red lights and on the wrong side of the road, and was clocked going 70mph in a 20mph zone.

Dragoi had initially made off from police who had been dealing with another incident in Turnpike Lane, Haringey, when a group of bikers sped by.

Dragoi, 19, of Teynton Terrace, Haringey, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving a motor vehicle without a licence, and driving without any insurance at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

He will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on January 14.

Marian Vasilica Dragoi. Credit: Metropolitan Police

The arresting officer, Sergeant Tony McGovern, from the Met’s Operation Venice command, said: "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.

"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 continued to put his own life and the lives of other road users, as well as innocent pedestrians, 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 to display such erratic behaviour on our roads."