A SPEEDING driver who ploughed into a stationary car in central Bradford causing a four-car smash that left a woman with a fractured spine has been jailed for 18 months.

Ibraheem Bostan was at the wheel of his VW Passat when he hit a Seat, spinning it into two other vehicles and leaving front seat passenger Hadessa Sajid with life-changing injuries.

Bostan, 22, of Warley Drive, Bradford Moor, Bradford, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to Miss Sajid by driving dangerously at 1am on June 20 last year and to failing to stop after an accident.

Prosecutor David McGonigal told Bradford Crown Court today that Bostan and his male passenger were on their way from Queensbury to a snooker club in the Leeds Road area when the car suddenly increased its speed on Croft Street, Idle.

The Passat crossed Manchester Road at 45-50mph, which the passenger considered to be too fast, and then increased its speed again as it approached traffic waiting at Bridge Street.

Mr McGonigal said Bostan’s passenger saw to his horror that the Passat was approach-ing a line of stationary traffic. It struck the rear offside of the Seat, spinning it into another vehicle. A fourth car was also involved in the smash that left Miss Sajid trapped in the Seat and fearing a fire because she smelt smoke and petrol.

Within seconds, people had rushed to her aid and the fire service arrived and cut the roof off the Seat to free her.

Bostan’s passenger was also trapped but after Bostan ran away, he was able to get out of the driver’s door. He too left the scene but his mother rang the police to say he was the passenger in the Passat. He then spoke to officers while he was at the hospital being treated for his injuries.

Miss Sajid was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with a spinal fracture. She underwent a six-hour operation to insert screws and a metal rod into her back and remained in hospital until July 7.

Mr McGonigal said Bostan rang the police to report that his car had been stolen. He was arrested at his home and said he panicked after the crash.

Miss Sajid said in her victim personal statement that she had been unable to continue in her job with the local authority and was now on benefits.

She had been in indescribable pain after the crash and at first was unable to walk. She now used a stick but was unable to go for a walk outside.

Her mental health had been severely affected, leaving her with panic attacks and suffering huge anxiety when she was a passenger in a car.

Miss Sajid said she had been left depressed and her family had seen their independent daughter bedbound in the living room.

Andrew Dallas said in mitigation that Bostan was 21 at the time. He had since married and his wife was expecting their first child. He was also running a successful business.

He was driving in a perfectly normal way until shortly before the crash when he speeded up on empty dual carriageways and failed to see the stationary traffic until it was too late. He was distracted and that caused the collision, the court was told.

After the smash he made “the ridiculous decision” to run off in panic when it was his car and he was bound to be traced.

It was now clear that Bostan was very remorseful and he had the support of family members who were in the public gallery, Mr Dallas said.

Recorder Richard Wright QC said Bostan had greatly increased his speed before the col-lision. He went to cut into the third filter lane and ploughed into the stationary car.

Afterwards he ran off from the crash scene in a “selfish and cowardly way.”

He then reported the car as stolen in an attempt to evade responsibility.

Bostan was jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for two years and nine months.