Two reckless drivers who almost killed two pedestrians after racing along the streets of Bolton and then lied to police about their identities have been jailed.
Mohammed Usman Patel, 20, of Leech Street, Bolton, and Furqaan Mohmed, 21, of Gibbon Street, Bolton, both admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Patel also admitted perverting the course of justice, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance while his passenger Mohammed Vohra,21, of Mancroft Avenue, Bolton admitted to perverting the course of justice.
Bolton Crown Court sentenced Patel to three years and 10 months in a young offenders institute while Mohmed was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. Vohra was also sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months and has been ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work.
Their driving caused a 12-year-old boy to suffered a bleed and swelling to his brain as well as multiple breaks to his leg while the 51-year-old man suffered a fractured arm, broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Sergeant Danny Byrne, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “What makes this matter worse is that Vohra and Patel conspired to lie about who had been driving.
“As a result we were not able to screen test Patel, meaning we will never know – and had no way of finding out – whether he had been drinking or taking drugs.”
Police officers from the Roads Policing Unit attended the scene and Vohra falsely identified himself as being the driver of one of the two Vauxhall Astra’s being raced.
It wasn’t until the following day and several police interviews later that he admitted he had lied about being the driver in an attempt to cover for Patel – who was disqualified from driving.
As Vohra falsely identified himself as the driver it led to Patel not being screen tested at the scene for alcohol or drugs as well as any other forensic evidence.
Sergeant Byrne said: “To say that it is fortunate nobody was killed as a result of this collision and more importantly Mohmed and Patel’s appalling driving is a complete understatement.
“The manner of their reprehensible driving was a tragedy waiting to happen: they were using the roads of Bolton as a racing track, showing nothing but contempt for other road users and members of the public.
“While the two injured parties did suffer very serious injury they are making good recoveries and I hope that today’s sentences will aid their continuing rehabilitation.”
Both Patel and Mohmed have both been disqualified from driving for four years and Mohmed, who was working as an Operational Support Officer based at Farnworth police station, has since been dismissed.
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