Man led police on car chase with four children aboard

Mohammed Yusuf Ali, 25, of Downton Road, Penhill, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of cannabis and failing to stop following a collision, and was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment and given a three-year driving ban when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

Roads Policing officers were in Swindon on August 23, 2023, carrying out proactive patrols as part of Project Zero when they spotted a Volvo V70 on Cricklade Road with what appeared to be illegal window tints. When they signalled for Ali to pull over, he accelerated away.

A pursuit was authorised but Ali continued off at speed on to Chapel Street and into Gorse Hill. During the pursuit, Ali reached speeds of up to 70mph in a 30mph zone and drove through several sets of red traffic lights, causing other road users to take evasive action. 

He then collided with a stationary Transit Tipper van, causing the wing mirror to come off. 

The pursuit came to an end when Ali pulled into the pub car park in Southbrook Road. He ran from the vehicle and attempted to climb a fence.

It was at this point that officers discovered three children under the age of five in the rear seats, as well as a fourth child who was standing in the footwell. Ali was also found in possession of cannabis.

PC Nick Slade of the Roads Policing Unit said: “This pursuit was incredibly dangerous – high speed through a residential area across several busy junctions and through multiple traffic lights, however, when we discovered Ali was carrying four children in the back of the vehicle – one of whom was unrestrained – we were appalled. 

"This shows a total disregard for their lives and simply does not bear thinking about what could have happened had other road users not acted quickly in taking evasive action. 

"In interview, Ali fully admitted that he put their lives at risk. The children who were put through this upsetting ordeal will undoubtedly suffer some long term effects as a result - however, I am extremely pleased that nobody was injured during the incident.

“Project Zero is a proactive operation that we run every week targeting the fatal five offences and we regularly stop drivers who are using vehicles with dangerous window tints. 

"While this may initially seem like a minor road offence, illegal window tints may also be concealing something far more sinister inside a vehicle. 

"This case serves to prove the importance of our work and I am pleased this has been reflected in the custodial sentence and lengthy driving ban handed out to Ali by the courts."