A Bolton man has stripped naked and hidden in a bath in a bid to fool cops after a high-speed car chase.

The chase took place in the town of Bolton at around 11.25pm on 23rd November when the police noticed a stolen Nissan car with cloned number plates.

The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: “During a routine patrol in Bolton on Tuesday 23 November 2021 at around 11.25pm police spotted a suspected stolen red Nissan Quashqai with cloned number plates.”

The court heard how police officers tried to follow the vehicle after the driver sped off, jumping red lights and even driving on the opposite side of the road.

The police said: “Over the next seven minutes, the vehicle drove dangerously at speed, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving through red lights. The driver eventually fled from the vehicle after police boxed him in.”

The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Ryan Stephen Hall of Tabley Road, ran inside a nearby property, stripped naked, and hid in the bathtub in a bid to fool arresting officers.

Meanwhile, the Nissan Qashqai was later confirmed to have been stolen in Salford on 1st October.

The GMP said: “Hall attempted to flee on foot and ran into a nearby house. While inside, he had stripped naked and jumped into a bath in an effort to deceive police. Officers stormed into the house and arrested the naked driver.

“The Nissan Quashqai was later identified as stolen from Hillside Drive in Salford on Friday 1st October 2021.”

Hall was sentenced at Bolton Court on Wednesday 15th December to 18 months in prison for dangerous driving, handling stolen goods, driving while disqualified and driving without a licence.

PC Richard Holland, of GMP’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Hall showed a blatant disregard for others by driving recklessly across the roads of Greater Manchester.

“He then attempted to mislead police by jumping into a bath and pretending like nothing had even happened.

“Hall’s actions could have had much more tragic consequences had officers not taken the measures to stop him.”

PC Holland added: “We are continuing to fight back against criminals involved in car crime and I hope this sends a clear message that we are committed stop those we believe to be responsible.”