College student Abtin Chamany, 19, took his mum’s car without her permission and was seen exceeding speeds of 80mph when trying to escape police in the middle of the night
A panicking student who took her mum’s BMW without permission led police on a chase where they sped through the city centre at over 80mph.
College student Abtin Chamany lost control of the car during his desperate bid to escape from police which saw the 19-year-old reach speeds of 84mph. He continued on through the streets at high speed driving in and out of traffic and straight through red lights before finally coming to a halt, Hull Crown Court has heard.
Chamany, 19, of Bramble Garth, Molescroft, Beverley, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, involving dangerous driving, and having no insurance on April 22. Michael Masson, prosecuting, said that police spotted a black BMW which had headlights that were tinted blue at 3.35am. They followed the car in an unmarked vehicle and Chamany began to increase his speed as he seemed to realise he was being followed, even though the police car was unmarked.
Masson said: “He pulled over to the side of the road of his own accord. There were others in the car. The police car activated its flashing blue lights and pulled alongside. It was at this point that the vehicle made off at some speed.” Chamany drove along James Reckitt Avenue, east Hull, at 70mph but, as he approached the junction with Mount Pleasant, he lost control and the vehicle span.
The 19-year-old continued to speed away and drove through several red traffic lights at speeds of up to 84mph in zones marked with 30mph or 40mph limits, HullLive reported. The car’s hazard lights activated and it came to a halt in a dual carriageway, with damage caused to the BMW. Chamany then put his arms out of the window and an officer pulled alongside, telling him to get out. He did so and was detained.
He told police that he “just panicked” and he said that the car belonged to his mother, who was upset that he had taken it while she was out of the country. His driving licence showed that he was born in Iran. He had not had any insurance since March 23.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, asked for a suspended prison sentence to be imposed. Chamany had no previous convictions and he was at college doing an electrical course. Judge John Thackray KC told Chamany: “You drove in a very reckless manner through the streets of Hull at excessive speeds and caused damage. All that’s bad enough but imagine if you had killed someone, which could so easily have happened, and you would have been facing a sentence measured in many years.
“As it was, nobody was actually hurt. You pleaded guilty and you have got no previous convictions.” Chamany was given a 14-month suspended prison sentence and 200 hours’ unpaid work. He was banned from driving for one year.