JAIL AFTER 80MPH CAR CHASE NEAR FOSSE PARK

STOLEN VW HIT FOUR OTHERS IN PURSUIT NEAR FOSSE PARK

A LAWLESS driver crashed a stolen car into four vehicles as he led police on a high-speed chase along residential streets and roads around Fosse Park.

Nahid Sameja, 37, went through a series of red lights, reaching speeds of more than 80mph.

One of Sameja’s victims was taken to hospital with whiplash injuries and suffering from shock after being smashed into in Soar Valley Way.

Neil Bannister, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court that a VW Sharan seven-seater people carrier was taken from outside a house in Aylestone Road, Leicester, on the evening of Saturday, May 1.

At 1.10pm the next day, the missing VW activated an automatic number place recognition (ANPR) camera in Narborough Road South.

The police caught up with the VW near Braunstone Lane East as it entered Gwencole Avenue.

It was pulled over and briefly parked up, with the defendant in the driver’s seat, but he then accelerated away as an officer approached on foot.

A second police car joined the chase, with siren and blue lights activated.

Sameja drove back along Narborough Road South “at speed”, joining a large traffic island near Fosse Park shopping centre and going through a series of red lights.

He turned across waiting traffic to join the dual carriageway at Soar Valley Way, where he drove “well in excess of 80mph”.

Approaching the Lutterworth Road junction, Sameja weaved through waiting vehicles and crashed into two cars - an Audi A3 and a Ford Focus - causing several thousand pounds’ worth of damage. The VW spun across the carriageway, before Sameja accelerated towards the city centre along Lutterworth Road, at 65mph in a 30 zone.

“At Middleton Street, the defendant weaved through traffic again, approaching a traffic light junction on Aylestone Road,” Mr Bannister said.

Two police vehicles manoeuvred to the front and rear of the VW to effect a stop, but in doing so Sameja collided with both patrol cars.

Sameja, who already had scores of offences on his criminal record, was arrested.

A drug swipe showed a positive indication for cannabis and cocaine, but with a reading too low for him to be charged.

He was found to have the Sharan owner’s wallet in his pocket.

Sameja, of Bruce Street, Westcotes, Leicester, admitted aggravated vehicle taking of the Sharan, driving it dangerously, theft of the wallet and having no insurance.

The prosecutor said Sameja was already “heavily convicted” with 53 offences on his record, including taking vehicles without consent, driving when disqualified, drugs offences, fraud, burglary and theft. His last conviction, in March this year, was for handling stolen goods.

Grahame James, mitigating, said the defendant had an issue with drug misuse that he had been addressing while on remand in custody. He added: “When he’s free of drugs he’s a perfectly ordinary person.”

Recorder Patrick Upward QC told Sameja: “The driving in question is some of the worst I’ve heard recounted and it’s quite surprising no-one was killed. Your record is appalling.”

Sameja was jailed for 18 months and was banned from driving for two years and nine months.