Fleeing Audi RS4 driver struck car before crashing into school

Syam Khan was spotted in the unregistered and uninsured vehicle on the city’s Jackson Street at 10.15am on November 28, Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday.

He accelerated off in the blue car pursued by the police who activated their sirens and blue lights, prosecutor Alisha Kaye said.

Khan did 60mph in a 30 zone and crashed into a VW Golf and a VW Polo on Leeds Road. He lost control of the Audi and ploughed into a school wall on Upper Nidd Street, Bradford Moor.

The Audi embedded in the school's wall (Image: T&A)

Khan was stuck in the wreckage for some time but managed to climb out over the passenger seat and run off. He was chased and sprayed with CS gas and then handcuffed in order to apprehend him.

The couple in the Golf were treated for their injuries at Bradford Royal Infirmary. The man suffered pain to his head, shoulder and back and his wife pain down one side of her body. They were still awaiting an insurance claim on their badly damaged car, the court was told.

Khan, 26, of Kimberley Street, Bradford Moor, made no comment when questioned by the police.

He pleaded guilty on Thursday to dangerous driving and driving without insurance and a licence.

Footage was played in court of the pursuit that lasted over a minute until Khan crashed the car.

Miss Kaye asked for forfeiture of the Audi, telling Judge Colin Burn it wasn’t registered to anyone.

Another view of the Audi in the wall (Image: T&A)

She said that in 2016, Khan was sentenced for killing a teenage boy passenger while driving a Golf GTi. Then aged 17, he had fled the scene. She pointed out that he was again at the wheel of a powerful car when he had injured two people.

Ken Green said in mitigation that Khan was remorseful and regretful. A letter handed into court from his wife showed a caring and positive side to him.

The couple had two children with a third on the way.

Khan helped to care for his elderly parents and had suffered a series of close family bereavements that had affected his mental health. He too had written a letter to the court.

Mr Green said he panicked when he saw the blue lights behind him and foolishly drove off. It was fortunate that no one was seriously injured.

Khan, who was sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds where he was remanded, knew he would receive an immediate prison sentence.

Judge Burn said it was a short but very dangerous piece of driving that injured a husband and wife. It was only short-lived because Kahn crashed into the school wall after hitting their vehicle.

The judge said Khan had a previous conviction dating back to 2016 when he was 17 for a very serious driving offence ‘with tragic consequences.’ This time, he deliberately attempted to drive at speed away from the police. Although the couple weren’t seriously injured, it was an unpleasant experience for them and their car was badly damaged.

Khan hadn’t passed the extended test ordered by an earlier court and so shouldn’t have been driving at all.

He was banned from driving for three years and eight months and until he passes the extended test.

*In April 2016, the Telegraph & Argus reported that Khan, then 19, was locked up for four years after he was convicted at Bradford Crown Court of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was estimated to have been driving at twice the 30mph speed limit when he lost control of a Volkswagen Golf GTi in Gilpin Street, Barkerend, Bradford, at about 11am on September 12, 2014.

He fled the scene as 15-year-old Saliq Malik lay dying in the wreckage - returning only to pick up his mobile phone in a bid to avoid being traced.