Audi RS3 driver smashed into Skoda dealership's wall while racing at up to 100mph

Tabish Khan was on the wrong side of the road when he lost control of the high-powered car and smashed into the Skoda dealership seriously injuring himself and his friend.

The impact catapulted the blazing engine block six feet from the wreckage, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Khan, 23, of Moorlands Avenue, Fagley, Bradford, and his passenger Mohammed Shah were unconscious in the vehicle, prosecutor Richard Walters said.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the men had been friends for a decade when Khan picked Mr Shah up that night in the black Audi.

The car joined up to four more vehicles that were seen speeding in convoy around the middle of Bradford.

Just after midnight, a police officer saw two dark-coloured cars racing along Canal Road at what he believed to be 100mph.

He activated his blue lights and set off after them only to see ‘a flash of fire’ moments later when the Audi crashed.

Mr Walters said the officer came across ‘a scene of carnage.’ The car had demolished a lamppost and caused extensive damage to the wall at the Skoda dealership.

The engine was on fire about six feet away from the vehicle, which was so badly dam-aged that the officer couldn’t at first tell what make it was.

He used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames in case they spread to the wrecked Audi with the two men in it.

Mr Walters said the drivers of two white VW Golfs that were racing with the Audi and the dark-coloured car stopped to watch and then made off.

Mr Shah, who worked as a delivery driver, suffered a brain injury, facial fractures, a fractured right hip and a broken pelvis.

Khan’s injuries included a broken ankle, broken ribs and a punctured lung.

He told the police he couldn’t recollect the incident but admitted that he was driving the Audi.

He went on to plead guilty to causing serious injury to Mr Shah by driving a black Audi RS3 dangerously on Canal Road on February 21 last year.

Shufqat Khan said in mitigation that Khan was a relatively young man who had made ‘a horrific mistake.’ He had suffered serious injury himself, with metal rods having to be inserted into his ankle and shoulder. He was no longer able to run or lift heavy items.

Mr Khan said there were up to four cars racing along Canal Road that night but no other driver had been brought before the courts.

Khan had tears in his eyes when he watched the footage. He knew people could have died that night.

A letter from his mother said he was genuinely remorseful. He lived with her and she would be adversely affected if he lost his liberty.

Judge Colin Burn said the Audi was built for high-speed driving. Khan was racing in it that night with a dark-coloured car and two white VW Golfs.

The roads were wet and he tried to overtake the car he was racing by going on to the wrong side of a dual carriageway. He was unable to control the Audi on a bend and he crashed.

It was far too fast a vehicle for him to control properly as he ‘careered around the centre of Bradford.’ In the ‘almost suicidal move’ to overtake, he crashed with such force that the engine block was catapulted out of the Audi.

Khan and Mr Shah were very lucky to have survived the impact, Judge Burn said.

Khan was awaiting the outcome of a drug driving offence when he crashed the Audi.

Then, on February 11 this year, he drove while disqualified when he must have realised he faced a serious charge in relation to the Canal Road smash.

There was evidence that he hadn’t completely learned his lesson after almost killing himself and his friend.

He had used the public roads in the middle of Bradford as a racetrack, Judge Burn said.

Khan was banned from driving for two years on his release from prison and until he passes an extended retest.