80mph chase the ‘most dangerous ever’ for policeman

AN intoxicated young driver led police on a high speed chase at more than double the speed limit and reversed into a patrol car as he tried to avoid being arrested.

Bilal Choudry, 20, pleaded guilty at Burnley Crown Court to drink driving and dangerous driving after the incident on November 2 last year, which a police officer described as ‘the most dangerous pursuit of his career’.

During the police pursuit, Choudry travelled from Oswaldtwistle through Haslingden, past Crawshawbooth towards Burnley at speeds of up to 80mph before he was detained. Choudry, of Lincoln Road, Blackburn, had been drinking vodka in his parked Vauxhall Astra with three friends on Thwaites Road in Oswaldtwistle at around 2am when a patrol car stopped to make a check on the car.

The court heard that Choudry ‘panicked’ thinking he would lose his licence for being over the limit, and did a u-turn before setting off at high speed. Stephen Parker, prosecuting, told the court that police upgraded the pursuit to ‘high risk’ due to the ‘dangerous manoeuvres’ of Choudry as he drove on the wrong side of the road at speeds of 70mph on Haslingden Road, accelerating to 80mph on Roundhill Road - a 40 zone.

The court was told Choudry hit a curb as he attempted an ‘extremely sharp turn’ to double back along Bury Road, damaging his steering.

Mr Parker said: “On Manchester Road police say he suddenly came to an abrupt stop. They noticed the Vauxhall rear lights come on and it came and reversed into the front of their vehicle.”

Another police car joined the pursuit and attempted to block in Choudry but he managed to squeeze through a gap by a drystone wall, damaging the bumper on both his vehicle and the police car. Mr Parker added: “He suddenly stopped the car and police witnessed him climbing into the back seat. Due to the nature of the driving and the length of the pursuit the officers immediately drew their batons and smashed the drivers’ window to gain entry and the driver was detained along with three other people, who were released.

“The officer concluded his statement by saying throughout his career he’d been involved in 14 pursuits and that was by far the most dangerous one he’d ever been involved in.”

Choudry’s alcohol reading was 50mg, over the legal limit of 35mg.

Recorder Mukhtar Hussain QC, sentenced him to 12 months in a Young Offender Institution and disqualified him from driving for three years.