Man jailed for driving at police during disorder

A man who drove at police in a bid to escape during a night of rioting has been jailed for nine months.

Salim Khan, 23, crashed his car and then fled on foot after being confronted by Cleveland Police officers during violence in Middlesbrough on 4 August, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Khan, a security guard from Middlesbrough, claimed he panicked and had not deliberately aimed his vehicle at anyone.

He admitted dangerous driving.

About 1,000 people took part in a protest march which began at the cenotaph on Linthrope Road shortly before 14:00 BST, prosecutor Omar Ahmad said.

Shouts of "take our country back" were heard and violence erupted when an object was thrown at the crowd as the marchers passed Clarendon Road, the court heard.

Mr Ahmad said there were several "factions" involved in the violence, including men armed with weapons.

At about 20:15, a uniformed police officer saw Khan and another man sitting in a blue Seat on Belk Street, the court heard.

Suspecting they had been involved in the disorder, the officer tried to open the driver's door to speak to them.

Khan, of Newlands Road, ignored the constable's demands, started the car and drove at speed towards him and other officers, before crashing into two parked vehicles.

He then fled on foot but returned to the scene half an hour later and handed himself into police, Mr Ahmad said, with his passenger having been detained at the scene.

In mitigation, Andrew Turton said Khan had finished a 12-hour shift as a security guard and was in the area after giving a friend a lift.

He saw his cousin, who had been involved the disorder, running towards him and, fearing he was being chased, Khan offered to drive the other man away, Mr Turton said.

Khan did not realise the officer, who he claimed was dressed all in black, was police and "simply drove off in a panic", Mr Turton said, adding he was not aiming for anyone.

The court heard Khan was a carer for his grandparents, who had had to return to Pakistan as he was unable to look after them, having been held on remand since 6 August.

His cousin had already been jailed for his involvement in the disorder, the court heard.

Judge Nathan Adams said he accepted Khan was not involved in the disorder but his actions contributed to the "chaos and danger" at a time when police officers already had enough to do.

Khan was also banned from driving for a year.

Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].