A JURY has found that a Skoda driver in a bucket hat ‘did the act’ of crashing into a woman’s car and causing her serious injury.

Warras Khan, 28, of Clayton Rise, Keighley, was not present for his trial at Bradford Crown Court because he was ‘under a disability’ and medically unfit to attend.

It was alleged that he was driving the silver Skoda Fabia shortly after 8.15pm on December 13, 2020, when it collided with the woman’s car at the junction of Nessfield Drive in Keighley.

He was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after his victim sustained a broken leg and other injuries.

The judge, Recorder James Baird, said the issue for the jury to decide on was whether Khan was driving the car during the collision. It was accepted that whoever was at the wheel of the Skoda was driving dangerously.

CCTV of the collision was played in court during the trial.

The court heard that Khan was a disqualified driver at the time.

Police officers who saw the Skoda shortly before the crash said the driver was wearing a distinctive bucket hat.

Recorder Baird, summing up the case today, said saliva found on the vehicle’s airbag was a full DNA match for Khan.

The jury was told that police on patrol in Keighley at 8.13pm saw the Skoda going at excessive speed. They activated their sirens and blue lights when they realised the driver was trying to get away.

They ended the pursuit before the crash that sent the Skoda flying into the air. It rolled and struck several other vehicles.

The police arrived within 15 minutes and arrested Khan, who had sustained a head injury and was wearing a bucket hat.

The jury decided unanimously that Khan did the act alleged against him.

After the verdict, his barrister, Christopher Styles, said Khan was being treated in the community by a mental health team.

The case was adjourned until January 23 for a probation report to be prepared and for Khan to attend court.

Two medical reports had already been compiled ahead of the trial.

Recorder Baird told the jurors that sentencing options in such cases where a defendant is mentally unwell were limited.