Blackburn man jailed for injuries caused to police officer

Mohammed Zafar, 21, pleaded guilty to causing the injuries to PC Bottomley during an incident on December 4, 2022.

He also admitted one count of aggravated vehicle taking, though did this after his plea to the first count.

Preston Crown Court heard how Zafar, of Lammack Road, Blackburn, was behind the wheel of an Audi SQ5 at the time of the incident.

After the crash involving the police officer, she was left with multiple broken bones in her hand and chest as well as other areas of her body.

Mohammed Zafar (Image: Lancashire Police)

In a statement summarised by Judge Richard Gioserano, she said: “The impact was so severe that I genuinely believed I might not survive. The pain in my chest was excruciating.

“The aftermath of the incident has been a harrowing experience.”

Judge Gioserano also described how there were two police pursuits on that day, and that Zafar had the opportunity to leave and abandon the car after the first one.

After the crash which injured PC Bottomley, Zafar abandoned the vehicle with his passenger inside, who was left with a broken arm.

Zarreem Alam-Cheetham, mitigating, said her client’s pre-sentence report spoke of his genuine remorse and regret for his actions.

She said this offending was “totally out of character” and the proceedings have shaken his “strong family network.”

Preston Crown Court (Image: Archive)

In sentencing, Judge Gioserano said: “This was a deliberate decision by you to ignore the rules of the road and you disregarded the risk of danger to others.

“This was prolonged and persistent.

“You performed an obviously dangerous manoeuvre and you did all this in the course of evading the police.

“You were travelling at some points at a speed significantly in excess of the speed limit.”

Zafar was sentenced to two years in prison and was banned from driving for four years.