Police chase driver avoids jail due to coronavirus

A DISQUALIFIED driver damaged three police vehicles during a high-speed chase in Birmingham but avoided an immediate jail sentence because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mohammed Hamzabutt, 20, also missed a pedestrian by inches during the 10-minute pursuit.

Hamzabutt, of Cobham Road, Bordesley Green, admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

He was sentenced to 15 months’ jail, suspended for two years, and ordered him to pay £500 compensation.

Birmingham Crown Court

Judge Paul Farrer QC said he had shown a “repeated and flagrant disregard for the rules of the road.” But he continued: “These are exceptional times and I am going to take what I view as an exceptional course.

“It may well be you have had a lucky escape today.”

Judge Farrer told him “You drove at one stage onto the pavement to avoid being boxed in by pursuing police vehicles.

“In doing so you came within feet if not inches of striking an innocent member of the public with potential fatal consequences.”

He said the only reason she was not hit was because she had the presence of mind to flee to the central reservation. “You also struck and damaged three police cars.”

The judge added: “The pursuit only ended when you crashed into the back of a car that was waiting to turn right.

“The force was sufficient for that car to be shunted into the path of oncoming cars who then had to take avoiding action.”

The driver of that vehicle, a BMW, suffered whiplash injuries as a result.

The court was told that despite Hamzabutt being disqualified he had bought a VW Golf and was driving in Alum Rock at 2.30pm on October 29 last year.

When officers tried to stop him he accelerated away and was involved in a “prolonged” police pursuit through residential areas for over five miles.

During the pursuit, he drove on the wrong side of the road, forcing other drivers to take evasive action.

Hamzabutt drove through one traffic light partly on the pavement and through a second at a pedestrian crossing.

He reached speeds of up to 70mph on roads with a 30mph limit that were heavy with pedestrians.

At one point his tyres became deflated and he drove on the rims with sparks coming off but continued to try and get away. Mohammed Riaz, defending said Hamzabutt was immature, suffered from depression and anxiety and two years ago his father had taken his own life.