A terrified family crashed into an oncoming van in a desperate bid to escape a pursuing car, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Karen Underhill ploughed into the Autoglass vehicle in panic after her daughter’s former partner tried to ram them.

Mohammed Shakiel, 31, pleaded guilty to affray and dangerous driving on November 9 last year.

He was jailed for 27 months by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC who told him: “This was a very serious, threatening and sinister action.”

Prosecutor Tom Gent told the court today that Shakiel and Victoria Underhill had a two-year-old son.

After the couple split up, Shakiel threatened to disfigure and kill Miss Underhill, of Cleckheaton.

He followed her to Bradford where she parked in the Burnett Street car park in Little Germany.

Mr Gent said Miss Underhill, accompanied by her mother and her toddler, was on her way to her solicitor to take out an injunction against Shakiel.

Shakiel, of Seaforth Terrace, Harehills, Leeds, kicked and punched the family’s car.

When Karen Underhill drove off with her daughter and grandson, he pursued the vehicle, swerving in front of it and trying to ram it from behind.

Mrs Underhill tried to escape on to a garage forecourt in Canal Road but crashed into the oncoming van. Her car was written off and she suffered whiplash injuries.

In a victim impact statement, Victoria Underhill said she had been stalked and threatened by Shakiel.

His barrister, Claire Larton, said Miss Underhill had visited him in Leeds Prison.

She added that he was appalled by his behaviour and had no history of violence.

In 1999, Shakiel was locked up for five years for drug dealing, the court was told.

Judge Durham Hall made a restraining order barring Shakiel from any contact with Miss Underhill without limit of time.

He was banned from driving for three years.