Taser cops snare Sheffied banned driver

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard on March 19 how Basam Sahraee, 24, of Nottingham Street, Burngreave, Sheffield, was seen driving a Range Rover on City Road, Sheffield, and was followed by police who believed he had committed a traffic offence.

Robert Coyne, prosecuting, said: “They followed the vehicle while carrying out checks and indicated for the driver to pull over.”

Police stated the driver got into the back seat, according to Mr Coyne, and police ran up to the vehicle believing Sahraee was going to run away and he was arrested.

Joanne Robinson, defending, said: “He fully accepts he jumped into the back but the police had Tasers and they were shouting and banging on the windows and he was frightened more than anything else.”

She added Sahraee had borrowed his cousin’s car after he had completed a drink-drive rehabilitation course and he believed he was legally able to drive again.

Sahraee pleaded guilty to driving on Boundary Road while disqualified on February 8 after he had been banned from driving for 12 months in October for failing to provide a drink-drive specimen.

The probation service said without a licence Sahraee claims he has not been able to earn money to send to his disabled mother in Iran.

Magistrates sentenced Sahraee to a 12 month community order with a rehabilitation requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work. He must pay £85 costs and a £90 victim surcharge. Sahraee was further disqualified from driving for nine months.