Killer Birmingham driver who fled country caught by something he left behind in borrowed BMW
A callous driver from Birmingham who fled the country after killing a cyclist was identified by police thanks to a drink and a receipt. Kashif Khan, from Erdington, left the country after driving at more than double the 30mph speed limit in a BMW and killing great grandfather, Andel Goulbourne, in Washwood Heath Road in Saltley at 11.20pm on Thursday, July 30, 2020.
Witnesses described Khan ‘zooming’ past them during an undertaking manoeuvre on a slip road at the Saltley Gate Island before cutting up a taxi driver as he merged back onto Washwood Heath Road moments before the fatal crash. Mr Goldbourne, 'fondly known as Spring-i', was cycling on Washwood Heath Road when he was hit by Khan's car and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Khan stepped out of the grey BMW but after witnessing what he had caused he walked away. He bought a one-way flight to Dubai the next day and left hours later, within 20 hours of killing the 59-year-old dad-of three and great grandad who he had left stricken in the street.
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Khan moved to Pakistan, setting up a new life, getting married, having two children, and working as a taxi driver. But the now 28-year-old, of Parkhouse Drive in Erdington, had left evidence in the borrowed BMW he had been driving, which led police to identify him and arrest him on his return to the UK.
West Midlands Police said officers ‘arrived within minutes after being alerted by members of the public’. While Khan had ‘slipped’ away, they got to work on finding out who had been driving the BMW.
Within it they found a drinks can. It had fingerprints on it and forensic experts found Khan’s DNA on a straw. Officers also found a discarded receipt they linked to Khan. When he flew back to Birmingham Airport on Tuesday, July 2 this year, Khan was arrested.
He admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for six years at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, September 19. He was also banned from driving for almost 13 years.
Shortly after the crash Mr Goulbourne's family, had described the father of three, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, as a ‘kind and generous individual, a mentor to many young people’. They said: “He always sought to serve those less fortunate, this was reflected in his role as a volunteer charity worker. He was a beacon of light.”
In victim statements read to the court before Khan was sentenced, Mr Goulbourne's family said his death had left a 'huge void in many people's lives - especially our lives’. It read: “Our lives changed forever upon hearing the news that our dad had passed away, and losing such a significant loved one left us in total disbelief with feelings of unbearable grief.”
“We will always feel the pain of losing someone so treasured as our dad. However, here we are today when despite our anguish we stand to be given some sort of justice and closure."
Det Sgt Paul Hughes from West Midlands Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "We can only hope that this sentence now, brings some comfort to Mr Goulbourne's family. Mr Goulbourne was callously left in the road fatally injured by this driver who was more concerned about trying to evade responsibility for his actions than try to help man he’d hit.
"He went so far as to leave the country within hours of this awful collision and remained away for years, but as soon as he tried to come back we were ready and able to bring him before the courts and see him admit the charge."