A TEENAGER was caught hiding in a garden after leading the police on a late-night pursuit in a Mazda 323, Bradford Crown Court heard today.   

Mohammed Fehzan Khan, 19, of Manningham Lane, Bradford, had cannabis on him when he struck a kerb in the car during the chase in the Barkerend area of the city. 

Prosecutor Austin Newman told the court the incident began when Khan failed to stop on Killinghall Road at 11pm on November 24, 2021. 

He sped away from the police, ran a red light and came to a halt after the Mazda hit the kerb. 

Khan jumped over the driver’s door and ran off. He was pursued and arrested when he was found hiding in a garden. He was in possession of a small amount of cannabis. 

Mr Newman said his fingerprint was discovered on the car windscreen. 

Khan made no comment to most of the questions asked by the police. 

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and possession of cannabis and also to theft and fraud by false representation committed on March 4 last year. 

Mr Newman said the dishonesty matters arose when a taxi driver picked Khan up from Halifax at around 8pm. 

Khan, who was using the alias Harry, asked him to stop at McDonald’s on Leeds Road in Bradford and then just off Killinghall Road. Two more males got into the taxi and one held a knife to Khan’s throat saying he owed him money. 

The court heard it was ‘a set up’ with allegations made that ‘Harry’ owed them £500. They also accused the taxi driver of being somehow involved with the debt. 

He feared he would be stabbed and handed over his £80 takings. When the males demanded more money, he put £200 into Khan’s account at a petrol station cash point. 

He told the police he was furious about what had happened and felt ‘a little silly’ that he had transferred the money but he was afraid the knife might be used on him. 

Khan had four previous convictions for seven offences, including aggravated vehicle taking. 

John Bottomley said in mitigation that he was 17 at the time and may have been exploited by those further up the criminal chain. 

Khan had spent time a considerable time remanded in custody and on a qualifying curfew order and had distanced himself from his earlier associates.  

He was living in hostel accommodation but planned to move to a different area of Bradford and to enrol on college courses. 

Recorder Taryn Turner said the taxi driver had been ‘set up’ in an ugly incident. It was a planned and concerted attack that left him feeling foolish but also frightened. 

The dangerous driving was when Khan was unlicensed and had a previous conviction for aggravated vehicle taking. 

But his upbringing was difficult. He had been in and out of placements since his mid-teens and got in with the wrong crowd. 

He was sentenced to a total of 21 months’ detention in a young offender institution, suspended for two years, with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and an accredited course with the probation service. 

He was banned from driving for 18 months and until he passes an extended test.