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Jail for racing takeaway delivery driver
A TAKEAWAY delivery driver who raced another motorist before losing control has been jailed.
Abdul Khalil, 20, of Gibbet Street, Halifax, was sent to a young offender institution for 12 months after he admitted dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
Judge Robert Bartfield told him it was an "absolute miracle" that nobody was killed or seriously injured in the incident.
Bradford Crown Court heard the accident occurred on the A646 Burnley Road, Luddenden Foot, on September 14 last year at 7.50pm.
Peter Hampton, prosecuting, said witnesses saw Khalil in a Honda Civic racing a Vauxhall Corsa towards Hebden Bridge into the path of on-coming traffic.
He reached speeds of 60 to 70mph in a 30mph zone and on at least two occasions went the wrong way around traffic islands.
Mr Hampton said: "The defendant had to brake hard to avoid a collision."
The manoeuvre caused the car to spin, hit the off-side kerb and rebound back into the middle of the road.
Khalil was arrested and told officers he had been delivering takeaway meals as a favour to a friend when the accident happened.
Stephen Wood, for Khalil, estimated that he drove dangerously for half a mile and said the offence amounted to "minutes of madness."
He said: "This was, on any account, extraordinarily reckless and downright dangerous.
"He expresses to the court what I hope can be accepted as genuine remorse for this incident."
Mr Wood said Khalil had not been in trouble before, had found the court process "salutary." He said Khalil described his explanation for driving the way he did as "pathetic."
Judge Bartfield told Khalil: "I can only describe your driving as lethal."
Khalil was also banned from driving for 18 months.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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