A repeat danger driver has been given the longest jail sentence a judge could give him, but the Bradford dad will be back on the streets after less than a year behind bars.
Recorder Nicholas Worsley KC today issued a severe warning to Zaheer Khan after hearing how he drove a red Audi A1 at high speed over a pedestrian crossing near Bradford Royal Infirmary during a late night police pursuit in January.
Bradford Crown Court heard that Khan, 34, had earlier given a false name to officers when he was stopped in the Audi.
When he was asked to turn off the engine he reversed at speed for over 40 metres towards oncoming vehicles.
During the five-minute pursuit on January 30, 2024, Khan, who had a passenger in the car, reached speeds of 80mph on 30mph residential streets and failed to slow down for a zebra crossing immediately outside the hospital.
Khan tried to run off after the Audi’s path was blocked by another vehicle, but he was chased and arrested.
The court heard that a roadside test showed a positive result for the presence of cocaine.
Recorder Nicholas Worsley KC explained that Khan’s appalling previous record for driving offences would have resulted in him passing a two-year jail term after a trial - the maximum allowed in law for a dangerous driving offence.
But Khan’s early guilty pleas at the magistrates court meant he was entitled to a third off his sentence bringing it down to 16 months and the judge said he would only have to serve up to half of it before being released on licence.
The court heard that Khan, of Bakes Street, off Great Horton Road, Bradford, had three previous convictions for dangerous driving and still hadn’t completed an extended driving test to get his licence back.
Recorder Worsley said Khan had continued to drive in a dangerous and illegal manner despite previously being locked up for similar offending.
“The BRI is an incredibly busy hospital with people, patients and staff coming and going at all times of the day and night,” he told Khan over a prison video link.
“Of all the places for you to be behaving in this way that is perhaps one of the most inappropriate.”
During the hearing Khan told the judge he was sorry from the bottom of his heart for his stupid mistake and said his wife and children were suffering financially without him, but Recorder Worsley said it could have been a member of the defendant’s own family who could have been injured or killed.
The judge said hoped that Khan was showing some insight, but added:”Actions speak louder than words.”
“You will end up killing yourself or killing someone else if you behave like this,” said the judge.
The court heard that while Khan had been waiting to be dealt with for the Bradford offences of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified he had committed more driving crimes in the Midlands and earlier this month he was jailed for 16 weeks at Birmingham Crown Court.
Recorder Worsley ordered that the 16-month jail term should be made consecutive to the current 16-week sentence.
He also banned Khan from driving for five years and emphasised that he still needed to pass the extended driving test.
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