Bradford danger driver jailed after ramming police car

Omar Taj, 35, is now wheelchair-bound after sustaining a badly fractured ankle when his grey BMW ploughed into the stone wall on Heaton Road, Bradford, shortly after 5am on July 8 last year.

He and his two male passengers suffered injuries but Bradford Crown Court heard today (Friday, December 16) that Taj, of Highgate, Heaton, Bradford, was far more badly hurt.

Omar Taj, driver of the car, is now wheelchair-bound (Image: Newsquest)

He attended at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court this morning because the city’s crown court does not have the facilities for defendants in a wheelchair.

The judge, Recorder Keir Monteith KC, linked into the case from the crown court and watched footage of the six-minute police pursuit.

Prosecutor Erin Kitson-Parker said officers on patrol spotted the BMW going at speed on Toller Lane at 5.10am. It accelerated away when they activated their blue lights and sirens, reaching 70mph on Heights Lane.

Taj drove at 65mph in a 20 limit close to a school and sped onto Heaton Park Drive.

He was cornered by the police and an officer got out of his vehicle and hit the BMW’s window, telling Taj to stop. But he escaped by ramming the police car, doing £11,120 damage, Miss Kitson-Parker said.

Seconds later, the BMW smashed into a wall belonging to St Bede’s & St Joseph’s Catholic College, doing damage valued at £5,820.

Taj had a previous conviction for causing death by careless driving, dating from 2009.

His record of eight convictions for nine offences also included failing to provide a specimen and driving while disqualified. He was banned and uninsured at the time of the crash.

His barrister, Lily Wildman, said he had suffered life-changing injuries and was awaiting an operation. He was in a wheelchair while his two passengers had sustained more minor injuries.

Taj had been at a challenging time in his life, with stresses at home and at work, Miss Wildman told the court.

He had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at the first opportunity at the magistrates’ court.

Recorder Monteith said it was particularly bad dangerous driving in built-up areas. Taj had sped past a school and overtaken a motorcyclist on the wrong side of the road.

When the police cornered him he made a persistent attempt to ram their vehicle and escape.

Aggravating features of the case were the fact that he was disqualified and uninsured and his previous convictions, including the death by careless driving.

 “I would have thought that after that conviction, you wouldn’t be committing any more offences relating to driving, but you did,” the recorder said.

He told Taj the footage played in court showed him being cornered by the police. He had still not stopped and rammed the police vehicle to escape.

 “If you’d got out at that particular time, you wouldn’t be in a wheelchair now, but you didn’t,” Recorder Monteith stated.

He conceded that Taj was remorseful and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

He had life-changing injuries and was due an operation at some point next year.

There were impressive character references about his good work ethic and the care he showed for his family. His mother relied heavily on him.

But the recorder did not think there was a good prospect of rehabilitation so the ten-month jail sentence was immediate.

Taj was banned from driving for two years and five months. He must pass an extended test before he drives again.