'Careless' drug-fuelled driver shows no remorse for dangerous antics

“During the initial pursuit Razaq had driven through traffic lights and at speed, reaching 90mph on a 40mph road"

A RECKLESS driver who was high on crack cocaine was sent to jail after showing no remorse for the danger he had posed to innocent road users.

Tahir Razaq (42) — who drove down the M1 the wrong way after entering it at Meadowhall — appeared before Sheffield Crown Court last Monday (March 20) after he evaded arrest while under the influence of drugs.

The court heard he had failed to stop after driving excessively on January 13 last year and had then been embroiled in a police chase where he reached speeds of 90mph on January 13 last year.

A police national computer check showed that the vehicle he was driving, a Kia Nero, was possibly linked to organised crime in South Yorkshire.

The police pursuit came to an end after Razaq drove onto the M1 at junction 34 of the Meadowhall and Tinsley Interchange on the wrong side of the carriageway.

Officers deemed it too dangerous to pursue Razap down the wrong side of the motorway.

Razaq was later arrested and charged with dangerous driving, driving while over the prescribed limit and other motoring offences.

Roads policing and pursuing Officer PC Michael Ramsden explained how officers managed to capture Razaq, of Ribston Place, Darnall.

“I heard over the radio that Razaq had already failed to stop for district officers and then sighted his car at the roundabout at junction 34,” he said.

“Razaq failed to stop again and knowing he had already been onto the motorway network, I used tactical contact to stop his car.

“He was high on drugs and completely unremorseful of the danger he had posed to innocent road users.

“During the initial pursuit Razaq had driven through traffic lights and at speed, reaching 90mph on a 40mph road.

“During my pursuit with Razaq he again attempted to go onto the wrong side of the M1.

“I used tactical contact to bring him and his vehicle to a stop, even then Razaq still didn’t give in and attempted to run away.”

At his court appearance, Razaq was sentenced to 18 months in prison, disqualified from driving for three years and nine months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £156.