Yahoo News 'You weren't on an Xbox' - judge slams boy racer who smashed into Blackburn mosque in police chase
A judge slammed a VW Golf driver who crashed into a mosque in a high speed chase through Blackburn, saying: "You were playing on an Xbox. This was real."
Mohammed Kahhar, 23, was at the wheel of his car when officers spotted what they believed was a drug deal outside Shadsworth House, Blackburn, on December 22, 2023. At 9.55pm the officers began to follow the Golf as it accelerated away at speed.
Kahhar drove at speeds of around 55mph to 60mph in the residential 30mph zone. As the car turned right into Shadsworth Road, officers activated their emergency equipment, signalling for him to stop.
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There were two other men onboard the Golf during the mile and a half chase. Kahhar failed to comply with a give way sign to oncoming vehicles travelling along North Road. As he turned ongo Audley Range he briefly lost control of the vehicle, narrowly missing a parked car, before regaining control and carrying on.
He cut in front of two cars which were waiting at a red light, causing one of the vehicles to take evasive action, before driving on the wrong side of the road in an erratic manner.
As he turned into Queens Park Road, he lost control of the car and collided with the wall of the mosque. His passengers fled the scene leaving Kahhar blocked in by the police, who arrested him. Kahhar was found to be in possession of cannabis and cash.
Judge Michael Maher sentenced him on the basis he had not been dealing drugs but had bought them in the exchange seen by police. There were no drugs in his system when he was arrested, Preston Crown Court heard.
The defendant pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and possession of a class B drug.
Judge Maher said: "You weren't playing an Xbox. You were driving a car. There were real life, flesh and blood individuals in that car and there may well have been people in the street. It is sheer dumb luck there weren't any people in your way.
"The risk you posed to other road users who might have been out on that sleepy night is something I cannot ignore. What your barrister says, frankly, is that you are young and stupid. You remain a working man and you are capable of channeling your energy in a productive way.
"But when the blue lights were turned on and there was a chase you put yourself, your passengers and other road users at risk."
He sentenced Kahhar, of Whitendale Crescent, Blackburn, to 10 months suspended for 18 months with 240 hours of unpaid work. He also ordered the defendant to return to court in four months to report on his progress. Kahhar will be banned from driving for 12 months and must take an extended retest if he wants to drive in the future.
