Dangerous driver high on cannabis crashed during police chase in Bolton

At Bolton Crown Court Hamas Husain was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for a year, after admitting dangerous driving, drug driving, driving without a full licence and having no insurance.

Judge Graeme Smith was told how Husain was spotted, just before midnight on June 16, accelerating hard in a Mitsubishi on Chorley Old Road.

Richard Vardon, prosecuting, told how the officers followed Husain as he turned into Gaskell Street but the 25-year-old driver refused to stop and drove at up to 50mph over speed bumps and through residential 20mph limit streets.

After heading along Brownlow Way, Tennyson Street and Eskrick Street, Husain lost control of the car and smashed into railings outside shops in Halliwell Road.

He ran off but police caught up with him in nearby Wapping Street and arrested him.

“He had been drinking but was under the limit. But police officers got the impression he had been using cannabis and a roadside saliva sample was positive for cannabis,” said Mr Vardon. James Preece, defending, said Husain had bought the car to do up and sell and had not intended driving.

“On this particular occasion he made the decision to drive the vehicle to go to the shop. He recognises this was a stupid decision,” said Mr Preece, who added that Husain intends to pay the council for repairs to the railing.

Mr Preece said Husain, of Duxbury Street, Bolton, claimed to have used cannabis out of boredom and his Aspergers Syndrome means he does not always realise the consequences of his actions.

Judge Smith told Husain his driving was “not as reckless as many of the instances we see before the court but, nevertheless, it was dangerous”.

As part of his sentence Husain was given a curfew for three months ranging from 7pm to 7am in the first month to 9pm to 7am in the third month.

He must also participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities, pay £240 in costs and was banned from applying for a driving licence for 12

months.