"Was he trying to kill someone or just himself?" judge asks of dangerous Doncaster driver

"Was he trying to kill someone, or just himself?" a judge asked after being told of a South Yorkshire man's dangerous driving in Doncaster, Sheffield Crown Court has heard.
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Sajeel Ahmed's red VW Golf was spotted travelling at speed away from Doncaster town centre, in the Bentley area of the A19, at 10.45pm, on October 20, last year.

When he saw police officers were chasing him in a marked car with their lights activated, he accelerated, prosecutor Ian Goldsack said on Friday.

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He drove into the oncoming lane on Victoria Road, before running a red light on Station Road.

Read the latest cases at Sheffield Crown Court.Read the latest cases at Sheffield Crown Court.
Read the latest cases at Sheffield Crown Court.

Ahmed braked hard and turned back towards the town centre, but police were able to deploy a stop-stick on Station Road, which deflated his front offside tyre, and the Golf ended up in a ditch.

In an interview, he told police he only had a provisional licence, Mr Goldsack said.

He has one, unrelated previous conviction from January 2019.

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The court heard he was driving a friend home and accelerated because he thought he would be in trouble.

Ahmed, 27, of Cunningham Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance.

Judge Rachael Harrison described his driving as "madness", and told him: "If you and I meet again, you will go to prison. If you drive while disqualified, you will go to prison."

She sentenced him to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 20 rehabilitation days.

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He must also abide by a two month curfew, from 7pm to 5am, and pass the extended re-test before he gets behind the wheel of a car again.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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