A DANGEROUS driver who led police on an 80mph car chase from Kenilworth to Balsall Common has been jailed.
Tariq Zaman from Medlicott Road in Birmingham pretended to comply to a request to stop by Warwickshire Police last July before launching his Peugeot 407 Estate at high speeds through Kenilworth.
During nearly ten minutes of a chase through Kenilworth towards Balsall Common, the driver drove on the wrong side of the road at high speeds; swerved to avoid oncoming traffic; and visibly nearly lost control of the vehicle at various points.
At one point, the 42-year-old hit speeds of 68mph in the 30mph zone outside of a primary school on Clinton Lane in Kenilworth; at another, he hit 80mph in a 40mph on Birmingham Road towards Balsall Common.
When Zaman took a turn down the wrong side of the A452 dual carriageway, police had to pursue on a parallel road to reduce risk to other road users.
Zaman then took a wrong turn onto a building site and ended up confronted with a closed road, at which point he jumped out of the car and attempted a cross-country escape.
He was found not long afterwards perching on a pile of rubble nearby, inside an empty shell of a building.
During his arrest Warwickshire Police said Zaman asked officers “What did you think of my driving?”
Zaman was sentenced to 20 months in prison for dangerous driving at Warwick Crown Court.
He was also ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge of £156 and has been disqualified from holding a driving license for 34 months and until an extended competence test has been passed.
Investigating officer DC Samir Hassan said “Zaman had a clear and flagrant disregard for the safety of the people of Kenilworth and Balsall Common.
“This chase involved so many near-misses and moments where Zaman almost lost traction completely that it’s a miracle that no-one was hurt.
“The gall of Zaman to ask for a review of his driving afterwards is astonishing – we’re not sure how many stars 20 months in prison and a 34 month driving ban translates to, but it definitely isn’t five.”
