Banned 'idiot' takeaway delivery driver shredded tyres during Leeds police chase
He had taken Audi without partner’s permission
A motorist already banned led police on a chase through Leeds and even continued when his front two tyres were completely destroyed by a stinger.
Junaid Ramzan was described by the judge at Leeds Crown Court as an “idiot” as he continued on disintegrating wheels and unable to keep full control of the car.
The 24-year-old admitted aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, driving while banned and having no insurance.
Prosecutor Syed Khukon played police watchguard footage to the court that showed the seven-minute chase from March 23.
Ramzan got into the Audi A3 and took off, with police pursuing him. He reached speeds up to 50mph in 30mph residential areas in Roundhay as he tried to shake the officers off.
A police stinger was deployed that burst his tyres, but he continued to drive, unaware they were shredded and detaching from the wheel rims.
The chase took them along Lidgett Lane, Street Lane and Ayresome Avenue. He eventually stopped and was dragged from the car.
Ramzan, of Talbot Avenue, Moor Allerton, gave a largely no-comment interview.
He was on a ban already from March 2024, when he was caught drug driving. Before than he received a ban for another driving matter.
The court hard that for his latest offences, he had taken his partner’s Audi without her knowledge.
A probation report suggested he regretted his actions and “panic and adrenaline took over”.
Mitigating, Andrea Parnham added: “He deeply regrets and is ashamed of his behaviour.”
She said despite him taking his wife’s car, she did not support a prosecution, but he “held his hands up”.
Ramzan had worked as a car mechanic but was made redundant, and with mounting debt, took a job as a food-delivery driver despite his ban.
Ms Parnham added: “He knew he should not have been driving.”
Referring to the police chase, she said: “He knew full well it was always to him to stop, but he was panicking. Rational thoughts were not within his grasp.”
She said he was unaware that a stinger had been deployed during the chase.
Judge Colin Burn told Ramzan: “You behaved like a real idiot. I don’t really know what was going through your mind.
“Throughout that time you could have simply stopped, particularly when the front tyres of the car were shot.”
He handed him a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years.
He ordered him to complete 10 rehabilitation days with probation, and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Ramzan was given a 12-month driving ban.