A FATHER-OF-TEN left three of his young children in his wrecked car after crashing at high speed and seriously injuring four people, a court heard.

Umbar Ali fled the scene of the accident abandoning the youngsters, his wife and his girlfriend in the still smoking vehicle.

Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday that Ali, 40, accepted that he caused serious injuries by driving his Vauxhall Zafira dangerously when the crash happened in Queen’s Road, Manningham, shortly before 9.30pm on Saturday, March 22, last year.

But Ali, of Acre Lane, Eccleshill, Bradford, has pleaded not guilty to four charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and claims that he drove as he did out of necessity because he was in fear.

The court heard he drove at 70mph in a 30 limit and overtook a vehicle before ploughing into an Alfa Romeo turning right into Valley Road. The other car was shunted 50 yards down the road and embedded in a tree, seriously injuring driver Imran Butt and his wife Sandleen Zeb.

One of Ali’s children, three-year-old Amira, suffered a severe laceration to her left ear which was almost severed, and two-year-old Ayesha fractured her leg and thigh. Aliah, 13-months, in a pram seat, suffered minor injuries.

Prosecutor Ken Green said Ali was involved in relationships with two women – his wife Shagufta, with whom he had seven children, and a girlfriend, Melissa Cox. Ali was the father of her three children, who were in the car.

In a statement, Miss Cox said she had a relationship with Ali for seven years but had ended it. That evening she and her children had gone with Ali to the home of his wife, where they had tea and chatted as the children played. They left at 9pm for Ali to take them home. Mrs Ali went with them.

Mr Green said Ali drove to a petrol station in Manningham Lane. As he got out to fill up, he was approached by a man. Ali jumped back in and drove off, as the man struck out at a window of the car.

Mr Green said Ali drove along Manningham Lane and turned right at traffic lights into Queen’s Road, well in excess of the speed limit. Another motorist estimated he was travelling at 70mph. The Zafira then struck the Alfa Romeo. Mr Butt suffered a fractured leg and shoulder and his wife a fractured shoulder. Both had to be cut free. The defendant had fled. He was arrested two days later, saying only that he was being chased but did not know why.

Mr Green said: “It is anticipated the defendant will say either he was in fear for himself or in fear for others and had to drive in the manner he did. The Crown say that is nonsense.”

The trial continues.

MORE TOP STORIES