A judge has branded footage of a dangerous driver speeding along roads near Blackburn as showing an “atrocious disregard for human life.”
Judge Graham Knowles was referring to dashcam footage of Rubel Amin, 31, speeding along the A59 between Samlesbury and Blackburn on June 14.
Preston Crown Court heard Amin reached speeds of up to 90mph along both Myerscough Smithy Road and Preston New Road, heading towards Blackburn – the area has a 50mph speed limit.
Holly Nelson, prosecuting, said police began to pursue Amin and his passenger following a dangerous manoeuvre on the road.
She said Amin drove on the wrong side of the carriageway and went through red lights at the junction between Branch Road and Preston New Road in Mellor Brook.
Officers further down Preston New Road successfully deployed a stinger device, which resulted in Amin’s vehicle losing one of its tyres.
He jumped from the vehicle and rolled away, almost being run over by the car – which ended up hitting the wall of a nearby property.
Amin was found by police hiding in bushes nearby.
Charlotte Phillips, in mitigation, said Amin has addressed previous drink and drug misuse issues.
Amin, of King Street, Blackburn, has six convictions for 14 previous offences.
Judge Graham Knowles, sentencing, said: “In 2016 in this court, you were given a suspended sentence and disqualified from driving until you passed an extended test.
"You went to prison for four years for attempted robbery in 2020. In 2023, for driving whilst disqualified and for other related offences, you were given a short term of imprisonment.
“Your pre-sentence report tells me the regret and remorse you express for the dangerous driving I am about to sentence you for is not because you care at all about the danger you put anyone in, but because you are about to be sentenced for it – in other words, you feel sorry for yourself.
“The report says you would rather drink and take cocaine and spend time with your criminal friends and acquaintances.
“That video we all watched shows a quite atrocious disregard for human life. It showed all you cared about was getting away from the police.
“Almost certainly, you were enjoying what you were doing at the time. You were getting a thrill from it. No doubt you thought you were impressing your passenger.
“You caused damage to the vehicle you were driving and to the property you crashed into at the end of all this.”
Amin was sentenced to 18 months in prison and was disqualified from driving for five years and nine months.
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