Drink driver jailed after attempting to flee from scene of collision

A drink driver who tried to escape police and assaulted an officer in Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed.

Vasim Khan, 38, of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, was driving a silver VW Golf on Chapel Lane, Burslem, on 4 April this year when he was involved in a collision with two other cars.

A police officer who was driving in the area spotted the collision and approached Khan while sounding his sirens. Khan drove away, despite extensive damage to the front of the car.

Khan was followed on to Nile Street where he stopped the car and got out. He was arrested while clearly under the influence of alcohol, punching the inside of the police car window and lashing out at the officer who arrested him.

He was breath tested in custody, giving a reading of 94 micrograms. The legal limit is 35.

Khan was sentenced to 16-months behind bars at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Friday 6 September after he admitted driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above the limit, driving a motor vehicle dangerously, assault by beating of an emergency worker, attempted common assault of an emergency worker and using a motor vehicle without third party insurance.

Thankfully, the officer wasn’t injured and none of the other drivers in the collision with Khan were injured.

Response PC, Jamie Dale, who dealt with the case, said: “We’ve seen far too many fatal collisions in Staffordshire recently, and drink driving is one of the four main causes of these collisions.

“Those who think it’s acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking will be robustly targeted and brought before the courts.

“I’m glad on this occasion that Khan’s reckless actions did not cause serious or fatal injury to members of the local community.”