A man who led police on a high-speed pursuit through residential streets with four young kids crammed in the rear of his vehicle has been jailed.
Mohammed Yusuf Ali, 25, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on 5 January having previously admitted offences of dangerous driving, possession of cannabis and failing to stop.
Roads policing officers were in Swindon on 23 August 2023 carrying out proactive patrols as part of Project Zero when officers spotted a Volvo V70 on Cricklade Road with what appeared to be illegal window tints.
When officers signalled for Ali to pull over, he accelerated off. A pursuit was authorised but Ali continued off at speed onto Chapel Street and into Gorse Hill.
During the pursuit, Ali reached speeds of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone, contravened several sets of red traffic lights, causing other road users to take evasive action.
He then collided with a stationary Transit Tipper van, causing the wing mirror to come off.
The pursuit came to an end when Ali pulled into the pub car park in Southbrook Road. Ali ran from the vehicle and attempted to climb a fence.
It was at this point that officers discovered three children under the age of five in the rear seats, as well as a fourth child who was standing in the footwell. Ali was also found in possession of cannabis.
The defendant, of Downton Road, Penhill, was jailed for 14 months and given a 36 month driving ban.
PC Nick Slade of the Roads Policing Unit said: “This pursuit was incredibly dangerous – high speed through a residential area across several busy junctions and through multiple traffic lights, however, when we discovered Ali was carrying four children in the back of the vehicle – one of whom was unrestrained – we were appalled.
“This shows a total disregard for their lives and simply does not bare thinking about what could have happened had other road users not acted quickly in taking evasive action.
“In interview, Ali fully admitted that he put their lives at risk. The children who were put through this upsetting ordeal will undoubtedly suffer some long term effects as a result however, I am extremely pleased that nobody was injured during the incident.
“Project Zero is a proactive operation that we run every week targeting the fatal five offences and we regularly stop drivers who are using vehicles with dangerous window tints.
“While this may initially seem like a minor road offence, illegal window tints may also be concealing something far more sinister inside a vehicle.
“This case serves to prove the importance of our work and I am pleased this has been reflected in the custodial sentence and lengthy driving ban handed out to Ali by the courts.”
