Video footage has been released showing a mobile phone thief fleeing police by speeding on the wrong side of a motorway on a moped.

Zuriel Hutson and pillion passenger Sharuk Sheraji snatched 18 mobile phones from pedestrians while they were making calls in Westminster and other parts of London on June 26 last year.

As Met police gave chase, 21-year-old Sheraji jumped off the vehicle in Haringey and was caught and found in possession of the phones.

Hutson continued on the moped-enabled vehicle, heading north and onto the North Circular, all the while followed by a National Police Air Support Air Service helicopter.

He rode at speeds of up to 90mph, weaving in and out of traffic along the M11, and often against oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the carriageway.

Zuriel Hutson continued his failed getaway after falling from the moped

Drivers were forced to swerve to avoid a head-on collision, but some minor incidents occurred as a result of Hutson’s riding, forcing police to close part of the M11 to prevent further danger to motorists.

Before reaching this point, Hutson, 21, came off his moped while trying to squeeze between two cars on lanes two and three.

The impact knocked the shoes off his feet and he skidded along the motorway, narrowly missing the car behind.

But he got back up, restarted his moped and continued along the hard shoulder against oncoming traffic.

Police eventually deployed a 'stinger' tyre deflation device, which safely slowed Hutson down and eventually stopped him on the slip road of the M11 to the M25.

Even then he attempted to flee bare foot but he was soon caught by police.

Both men were charged, and on January 31, Hutson, from Crowfield House, Highbury New Park, Islington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal, dangerous driving, breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order at Wood Green Crown Court.

Sharuk Sheraji was found in possession of the 18 phones

Sheraji, of Sebastion House, Hoxton Street N1 appeared at the same court on February 9 and admitted to conspiracy to steal and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order.

Both were remanded on court bail, awaiting sentencing.

During their phone theft spree, the pair snatched 10 phones in Westminster, three in Camden, two in Islington and Hackney and one in Tower Hamlets.

Detective Inspector Detective Chief Inspector Steve Heatley said: “Both defendants, Hutson in particular, could have caused serious injury to the victims, the public, other motorists, even themselves, in their callous execution of their crimes and attempts to evade justice. They had no regard for anyone but themselves.”

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