Banned motorist ledNews cops on 80mph chase as he was late for work

MAN WHO REPEATEDLY FLOUTED DISQUALIFICATION SENT TO JAIL

A MOTORIST who has flouted his driving ban five times has been jailed after a warning that his actions could have easily killed someone.

Ikraam Rashid drove at 80mph on 30mph roads during a police chase and went the wrong way on Leicester’s Red Hill Circle roundabout.

The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and breaching a motoring ban, on November 27.

The court heard he had decided to drive as taking the bus would have made him late for work.

Leicester Crown Court was told that officers in an unmarked vehicle saw the defendant, of Corporation Street, Belgrave, speeding out of his street in a Vauxhall Corsa at 9.30pm.

They followed him along Beaumanor Road and put their lights and siren on as they reached the A6.

Phillip Plant, prosecuting, said: “Rashid accelerated away at 80mph in a 30mph area towards Birstall and continued to overtake, causing oncoming drivers to take evasive action. He drove on the wrong side of two keep left bollards.”

Rashid turned right into Sibson Road, and the pursuit was then picked up by other officers who saw him doing 70mph in Birstall Road.

Those officers followed him back to the Red Hill roundabout, which he went round the wrong way, before ending up in Border Drive and coming to a stop in Hadrian Road, where he tried to run off, but was detained.

Lauren Butts, mitigating, said: “He was driving to work but shouldn’t have been on the road. He’s a support worker for a private care company, caring for the elderly and young people with disabilities.

“His rota would change at short notice and he used a friend’s car because if he had gone on a bus it would have taken over an hour and, if he was late, his pay would be capped.

“He accepts his driving was dangerous but did not initially appreciate the BMW car following him was an unmarked police vehicle until the lights and siren were activated – and he drove off in panic.”

Miss Butts, asking for Rashid not to be jailed, said the defendant was the sole breadwinner for his family, helping to support his mother as well as younger siblings.

However, Judge Philip Head jailed him for 18 months, and banned him from driving for another 39 months.

He said: “Since May 2016, you’ve amassed a series of motoring convictions, which says a great deal about you and your lack of concern for obeying the law.

“They include driving when disqualified on four earlier occasions when you were banned.

“I’ve been told about the circumstances of your mother and siblings that would attract sympathy, but I have to reflect the way you drove on this occasion.

“The 30mph limit it there for the protection of other motorists and pedestrians – and a collision at the speed you were travelling at would undoubtedly have killed or seriously injured someone.

“This was the worst kind of sustained bad driving.

“Time and time again you’ve broken the law. I wish I could feel that by disqualifying you I could keep you off the road, but you’ve shown it makes not the slightest bit of difference.

“Sooner or later you will kill someone if you go on behaving in this way. It might be yourself but the chances are it might be someone else and you have to think if you can live with that on your conscience.”