A DRINK and drug-fuelled driver who ploughed into a group of people outside a Bradford nightclub - leaving one man with “catastrophic” injuries - is not dangerous, top judges have ruled.

The decision at London’s Appeal Court means Istahar Ali, 20, of Ryedale Way, Allerton, will serve only five and a half years behind bars before qualifying for automatic release.

Ali and Tanweer Khan were thrown out of Uber Nightclub, in Sackville Street, on August 22 last year as they hadn’t paid to get in.

After a scuffle outside, Ali got in his Seat which was parked nearby and deliberately drove at speed into the doors of the nightclub. One of the doormen, James Rhodes, was injured and two other men were hit by the car.

Ali then drove in a loop of the surrounding roads, causing people to ‘jump out of the way’.

He did another circuit, including going the wrong way on a one-way street, then drove into a group of people including Luke Harris.

The father-of-three was dragged along the road under the car and suffered dreadful injuries.

Ali eventually stopped and ran off. He had been drinking and had taken cocaine.

Members of the public rushed to store manager Mr Harris’ aid, lifting the vehicle so he could be treated.

His injuries included a skull fracture, broken ribs and serious grazing to his back which needed plastic surgery.

“Harrowing victim personal statements were before the Appeal Court yesterday, said Mr Justice King. The impact of Ali’s “appalling” crime on Mr Harris and his family was “catastrophic”.

Ali admitted causing Mr Harris grievous bodily harm with intent, dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Mr Rhodes.

He was jailed for 11 years at Bradford Crown Court on December 17 last year. He was ordered to serve an extra four years on licence after his release after the judge condemned him as a public danger.

“I can’t gamble with you and the public in view of the enormity of your actions,” said the judge, who also banned Ali from driving for five years.

Khan, 27, of Douglas Towers, Radwell Drive, Little Horton, was jailed for 27 months after admitting affray.

Barrister Orlando Pownall QC today argued Ali, who had previous convictions for battery, had wrongly been labelled dangerous.

He said it had been an ‘”aberration” and ‘”dreadful” conduct by a young man who had, uncharacteristically for him, been drinking and had consumed drugs.

He pointed to reports from a probation officer and psychiatrist, neither of whom considered Ali dangerous and who described his remorse and his crimes as being “out of character”.

Mr Justice King said Ali had “deliberately driven his car on three occasions at people outside a nightclub while under the influence of alcohol and drugs”.

It was “on any view appalling conduct with catastrophic consequences”.

But added: “We do not consider in this particular case that the facts and circumstances looked at in isolation gave any proper basis for a finding of significant risk.”

He pointed to Ali’s age and the “lack of any pattern” of committing this sort of crime at this “level of seriousness”.

He said the probation officer’s report was “balanced and well-argued”.

Mr Justice King, who was sitting with Lord Justice Hamblen and Judge John Bevan QC, allowed the appeal and quashed the extended license period.

Under his original sentence, Ali would have served at least two-thirds of the 11-year sentence, and possibly all of it, behind bars. However, the appeal court’s decision means he will now be entitled to automatic release after serving just half the term.

As his five-year driving ban would run out before he is released, the appeal judge increased it to eight years.

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