Burnley driver jailed for police car smash (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley driver jailed for police car smash

9:37am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

A PEDESTRIAN was almost mown down and two police officers were injured when a young driver, out for a spin in his brother's flash car, smashed into their patrol car, a court heard.

Off-licence worker Mohammed Ahmed, 24, had been at the wheel of his brother's black Audi when he had sped off from police in the Colne Road area of Burnley.

He hit the police vehicle , which turned over several times, but the officers miraculously escaped with minor injuries, the town's crown court heard.

The hearing was told the defendant had panicked because he had a snap bag of cannabis in the vehicle.

He has now been locked up for nine months. Ahmed, who had 27 offences on his record and had a previous conviction for dangerous driving, admitted dangerous driving, possessing cannabis and no insurance, on August 7.

The defendant, of Hibson Road, Nelson, was also banned for three years and must take an extended driving test. He had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

Hugh Barton, prosecuting, said on July 20, shortly after 1am, the defendant was seen parked in the Audi. A police officer noticed the vehicle was facing the wrong way and could see a man leaning in at the driver's window.

The Audi set off, the officer followed it and indicated the driver should pull over. The defendant stopped, but when the police car stopped behind it, he sped off. The officer followed it briefly on foot, to see what direction it was going and saw the Audi narrowly miss a pedestrian at the junction with Bright Street and then crash into a police car travelling in the opposite direction.

The police car turned over several times and the two occupants had to climb out of it. Both sustained stiffness, cuts and bruises and went to hospital.

Mr Barton said Ahmed was arrested as he tried to get out of his brother's car. He was questioned and explained he panicked when he saw the police car as he had cannabis on him.

The defendant wrongly thought he was covered by his brother's insurance.