A dangerous driver tried to fool police by diving into the back seat of his car after leading them on a 137mph chase.

David Brennan, 23, claimed he was an innocent passenger when officers stopped him in a Mini Cooper on the M6 in the West Midlands.

“I wasn’t even driving,” he protested as his hands were cuffed behind his back.

However, his cunning plan was quickly shot down by police.

“Yes, you was mate,” replied one officer. “It’s all on camera as well pal, so let’s not be daft.”

Land speed record holders – in pictures Show all 4 1 /4 Land speed record holders – in pictures Land speed record holders – in pictures General view of the Thrust SSC Car in action during the Supersonic World Land Speed Record Challenge at Black Rock Desert in Gerlach, Nevada Harry How/Allsport Land speed record holders – in pictures The jet-propelled car 'Thrust 2' driven by Richard Noble, breaking the British land speed record at RAF Greenham Common airbase in Berkshire Getty Land speed record holders – in pictures Richard Noble poses with Thrust 2 as shown, (the jet car that has 34,000 horse power), when it was unveiled in the Metropole Hotel here. He will attempt a new world record on Bonneville Salt Flats Utah next month. The current world land speed record held by America stands at 622.407 m.p.h. Noble expects to reach 650 or more Getty Land speed record holders – in pictures The Budweiser Rocker Car reached a speed of 739.666 mph at Edwards Air Force Base in California on 17 December 1979. The speed was not officially sanctioned however, as the Digital Instrument Radar used to measure the speed was not properly calibrated Tennessee Wanderer

The high-speed pursuit began when police spotted the Mini Cooper on the afternoon of 18 September.

Realising it matched the description of a vehicle stolen in a burglary in Halesowen, officers followed it on to the M6 motorway.

Brennan regularly topped speeds of 100mph as he weaved between lanes and on to the hard shoulder in an attempt to evade arrest.

The pursuit finally came to an end at junction 10 when he tried to do a U-turn and drive the wrong way up a slip road.

Police rammed the Mini to bring the chase to an end as another patrol car cut off its escape route.

Video footage then captured heavily-built Brennan clambering into the back to leave his friend in the front sitting next to an empty driver’s seat.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

“Brennan thought he could pull the wool over our eyes with a quick jump over the seats and into the back of the car, but we’d seen it happen and it was all caught on video,” said Police Sergeant Mitch Darby. “This was appalling driving on one of the busiest sections of motorway in the country, which put other drivers at risk. We had no option but to use our training to safely bring the pursuit to an end, before the Mini had a chance to go on to potentially be involved in a head-on collision on the slip road.”

Brennan of Bartley Green, was jailed for 18 months at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.