Law student's headlong collision while speeding in Sheffield

Nabeed Mohammed was travelling along Retford Road in a red VW at 7pm, on February 1, last year, said prosecutor Joseph Bell.

Although the speed limit is only 30mph, witnesses described him "flying past" at around 70mph, and overtaking as he approached the junction with Beavor Hill Road.

Mohammed went around a traffic island the wrong way, but "lost control due to the speed he was travelling at," and skidded sideways a few metres.

One witness said the car was about to flip over and he failed to regain control, driving straight into an oncoming vehicle.

One witness said "it was the worst driving he had seen in 40 years."

After the collision Mohammed and his passenger stayed for ten minutes and then got a lift from a passing friend.

He contacted police three days later and claimed he had swerved to avoid an animal.

His victim doesn't remember the collision and can only recall being cut from the vehicle by firefighters, said Mr Bell.

She was off work for four weeks, on crutches for two months, and struggled to do simple things like climbing the stairs. Her car was a write-off.

Upkar Bahia, mitigating, said Mohammed was not a boy-racer, but “quite foolishly” underestimated how many cars there were in front of him when overtaking.

He said it was "a moment of madness" born of inexperience, and Mohammed, a law student, was picked up by a passing friend who later took him to hospital.

"To his credit he did contact the police a few days later,” Mr Bahia said. “He fully accepts his overtaking was inappropriate and dangerous. He tells me he is the first member of his family to ever be in trouble with the police. He is very ashamed."

Mohammed, 21, of Richard Road, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident, on January 27.

On Wednesday, Recorder Paul Kirtley imposed a 12-month community order, with 80 hours of unpaid work, and ordered him to pay £500 compensation. Mohammed was banned for 12 months and must undertake the extended re-test.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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