Brit Joy drives his £200,000 Lamborghini SUV around a French beach, sending terrified families fleeing – then tries to pay passers-by to delete footage of his stunt as police close in to arrest him

A British man has taken his Lamborghini SUV for a joy ride around a French beach, sending terrified families fleeing.

The Briton reportedly drifted through the sand at high speed as tourists sunbathing on the beach of Le Touquet, in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France, scrambled to safety.

He had used the boat ramp to access the beach, where he drove back and forth for a few minutes before trying to maneuver his £200,000 Lamborghini Urus back up the ramp after noticing the panicked beachgoers, a witness told the local media.

But his attempt to flee failed when an employee of the nearby nautical center used a tractor to block the camp, preventing the driver from leaving the scene. La Voix du Nord reports.

After stopping the car, the man reportedly walked up to a passerby who filmed his joyride and offered him money to delete the footage of his stunt, witnesses said.

He had used the boat ramp to access the beach, where he drove back and forth for a few minutes before trying to maneuver his £200,000 Lamborghini Urus back up the ramp after noticing the panicked beachgoers, a witness told the local media (file image of a Lamborghini Urus)

Photos from the beach showed several tire tracks in the sand after the unnamed man’s ride.

The driver then tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended by police. He was reportedly arrested and taken to the police station for questioning.

He was charged with driving in a conservation area and could face a fine of £1,200 (€1,500), according to police. He must appear in court within a few weeks.

Officers are still reviewing camera footage as part of their investigation.

Local media report that the Briton took part in The Cannon Run, a luxury car racing event that starts in London and runs through France and Belgium.