Blackburn man jailed after fleeing scene of head-on crash

Usman Rasul, 34, of no fixed address in Blackburn, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop after a road accident, failing to report an accident, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence.

Preston Crown Court heard the collision happened at about 8.50pm on November 25, 2023.

Prosecutor Katie Lord said the victim, Mr Patel, was driving towards Blackburn town centre with his brother when he saw an Audi A4 travelling at speed on the wrong side of the road.

Usman Rasul (Image: Lancashire Police)

Despite braking and bringing his vehicle to a stop, the Audi crashed head-on into the car.

Mr Patel was initially trapped inside because of the damage but managed to force open the driver's door and call 999.

As he did so, he saw an Asian man get out of the Audi and run away. A second man, described as white, approached the vehicle before also leaving the scene.

Mr Patel and his brother were taken to hospital by ambulance.

The court heard Mr Patel suffered a fractured kneecap which required surgery, as well as a wrist injury and a laceration to his knee. His brother suffered facial injuries.

Police examinations found blood at the scene, and forensic testing later identified Rasul's DNA on the Audi's airbag.

When interviewed, Rasul denied being the driver. He told officers he had been drinking heavily for two days and had little recollection of events.

Presented with the forensic evidence, he suggested he had been inhaling nitrous oxide and claimed a man called Warren had been driving while he sat in the back of the car.

Rasul initially denied the charges and a trial was due to take place last November. However, he changed his plea on the day the case was listed for trial.

In a victim personal statement, Mr Patel said he continued to suffer flashbacks and struggled to sleep.

He said: "My injuries are still ongoing. I am still unable to bend my leg. It is uncomfortable when I walk so I still have crutches. The physio said it could take years to fully recover.

"I am unable to do anything with my family. When I go to prayers I have to sit in a chair and it is very embarrassing because people stare. I can't work."

His brother said he now found travelling in a car frightening.

Defending, Steven Levine said Rasul had mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety and stress.

In a letter read to the court, Rasul apologised to the victims and said drugs and alcohol had been his "biggest downfall". He asked the court for leniency and said he wanted to change his life.

Sentencing him, Recorder Emma Fisher said Rasul's driving record was among the worst she had seen.

Preston Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

She detailed a string of previous convictions dating back to 2008 for offences including driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, drug-driving and taking vehicles without consent.

The judge said Rasul had a "horrible history of ignoring court orders" and noted he had been on licence from a previous prison sentence when the crash happened.

She also referred to a pre-sentence report which assessed him as posing a high risk of serious harm and reoffending.

Recorder Fisher said Rasul had wrongly tried to blame others for the crash and had fled the scene without knowing how seriously injured the victims were.

Rasul, who sat with his head in his hands in the dock for most of the hearing, was jailed for three years and four months.

He was also banned from driving for four years and eight months.