Shocking moment teenage thief races the WRONG WAY through busy Blackwall Tunnel in stolen Range Rover

A TEENAGE joyrider drove a stolen Range Rover the wrong way through the Blackwall Tunnel and ploughed into an oncoming motorist.

Johal Rathour, 18, has been jailed for four years after he drove toward terrified motorists before smashing into a Mercedes van.

Teenage joyrider Johal Rathour drove the wrong way through the Blackwall Tunnel in a stolen carMet Police

Met PoliceHe was lucky not to kill anyone after driving straight toward oncoming traffic[/caption]

Rathour ran away after causing the crash in the early hours of August 6 last year after causing £80,000 of damage to both vehicles.

The Blackwall Tunnel had to shut for more than two hours during rush hour traffic, causing a total loss of £585,000 of revenue to Transport for London.

Rathour was arrested shortly afterwards after officers forensically identified him and tracked his mobile phone.

He then failed to go to court and was finally tracked down by police in January this year.

Rathour, of Bridge Road, Grays, was later convicted of a series of offences including aggravated dangerous driving and dangerous driving.

He was jailed for a total of four years at Snarebrook Crown Court.

Police Constable Adam Lamb, the investigating officer in the case, said: “Rathour was guilty of an incredibly dangerous piece of driving and it was a miracle that nobody was seriously injured.

“Watching the video of him driving the wrong way through the tunnel is very distressing as it seems inevitable that a fatal collision would happen.

“As well as the damage to the stolen vehicle and the van he collided with, Rathour also disrupted and delayed the journeys of thousands of people using Blackwell Tunnel on the day of the crash.

“I am glad that he has faced justice for his actions and will not be able to drive on the roads of London for many years.”

Met PoliceThe moment a teen raced the wrong way through Blackwall Tunnel in a stolen Range Rover[/caption]