Driver hit two vehicles in road-rage rampage
A PROPERTY manager who had been sent home went on to commit shocking road-rage attacks, deliberately ramming his car into two separate vehicles.
Daanish Ghafoor, 29, left two female drivers shaken following the ‘terrifying’ incidents in Rochdale.
A judge said it was one of the worst cases of dangerous driving she’d seen.
A court heard Ghafoor turned to alcohol and cocaine and had earlier been sent home by his boss at a Manchester property management firm.
Later that morning, he rammed his Seat Leon at the two cars and collided with them.
His first victim was a refuse worker who was driving a van and looking for fly-tipping on April 2 last year, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
She had the right of way, but despite this Ghafoor continued and there was a standoff with the two vehicles unable to pass.
Ghafoor started ‘revving’ his engine, and then proceeded to reverse before ramming into her car. He did this three times.
He then threw part of a brick at the van, hitting the bonnet.
Ghafoor started shouting obscenities and saying ‘get out of my way.’
He also threw a bottle of gin at her windscreen.
Then he mounted the curb and drove level to the window of the van, using what appeared to be a crowbar to hit out at the van, causing damage. He then sped off.
Prosecutor Rachel Widdicombe told how about 10 minutes later, another female driver came into contact with Ghafoor.
She gave way as there wasn’t enough space, but he deliberately rammed her vehicle twice.
When the woman asked for his insurance details, Ghafoor subjected her to a foul-mouthed tirade and said ‘I don’t f***ing care’ and ‘challenged’ her with a metal bar.
He drove off, but police were able to track Ghafoor and he was apprehended. After being arrested, he subjected police officers to ‘appalling’ abuse for over an hour, using offensive, racially aggravated terms.
One of the women said she had been left ‘petrified’ by her ordeal, while the other said it had a ‘huge effect’ on her.
Ghafoor admitted dangerous driving, a public order offence, racially aggravated harassment and criminal damage.
Months later, in October, Ghafoor assaulted his partner and admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one of criminal damage.
The court heard the couple have since reconciled.
Defending, David Morton said Ghafoor, a graduate of Salford University, resorted to alcohol and cocaine after ‘difficulties’ involving his brother.
His line manager sent him home on the morning of the dangerous driving incidents after noticing he wasn’t behaving normally, the court was told.
Ghafoor, of Stamford Street, Rochdale, wants to apologise and has displayed ‘huge regret,’ the court was told.
He was sentenced to two-anda-half years in prison.
Sentencing, Judge Angela Neild told him: “I don’t think I have seen a case of deliberate dangerous driving as bad as this.”