Footage shows gunman leading police on terrifying 130mph chase
He discarded his weapon in a bush.
This is the disturbing moment a lone gunman led police on a 130mph chase.
Footage shows how Rooney Whyte led armed officers for 35 miles along the M26 and M25 from Kent to Surrey.
The 42-year-old’s can be seen weaving across lanes in an Audi Q5 and driving on the hard shoulder after passing Clacket Lane Services on the M25.
He was tracked by a police helicopter leaving the motorway where he overtook a number of vehicles into oncoming traffic.
After an abrupt stop in a cul-de-sac in Ottershaw, Surrey, Whyte jumped a fence and ran into a wooded field.
In the clip, he can be seen stashing away a handgun into some brambles before he continued his escape on foot.
But two officers were finally able to arrest him as they caught up with him in the middle of the open field.
Detective constable Steven Brown, of Kent Police, said: ‘Members of the public had to take evasive action to avoid a collision due to the manner of Whyte’s driving.
‘He put himself and other road users at risk and that is not acceptable.
‘There is also no good reason for any member of the public to be in possession of a handgun and its live ammunition.
‘Only organised criminals with no aversion to committing serious violence would seek to possess such an item.
‘I am therefore pleased that this weapon has been removed from circulation.’
Whyte, of Stratford, east London, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to possession of a firearm, failing to stop and dangerous driving.
He was jailed for five years and four months and has been disqualified from driving for 47 months.
DC Brown added: ‘We will never show any tolerance for offending of this nature and it is only appropriate that Whyte is now at the beginning of a substantial prison sentence.’
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