Man who drove stolen Gatwick taxi at 130mph avoids jail
Mohammed Ahmed led police officers on a high-speed chase
A man who took a taxi from outside the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport, then led police on a high-speed chase in it, has avoided jail.
Mohammed Ahmed reached speeds of up to 130mph along the M25 and M40 on September 17th last year, before eventually being tracked down in his home town of Walsall.
The 24-year-old, of Heather Avenue, had taken the vehicle after one taxi declined to take him in an apparent fare dispute.
Footage showed Ahmed entering the vehicle after its owner had gone inside to collect a fare, leaving the keys in the ignition.
Ahmed later attended the victim’s address to discard identification documents before driving off at speed.
During the chase, Ahmed drove into cordoned off areas with roadworks in order to evade officers, and even continued to drive at more than 100mph after losing a tyre on the Mercedes when he ran over a tyre deflation device set out by police.
But he was tracked by the National Police Air Service helicopter who informed police colleagues in Thames Valley Police and Warwickshire Police.
He drove into a cul-de-sac in Walsall and was arrested.
Following an investigation by Gatwick CID, Ahmed was charged with aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.
Ahmed, unemployed of Heather Avenue, Walsall, appeared before Lewes Crown Court for sentencing last Friday (August 4th).
He was disqualified from driving for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work as part of a 14-month suspended prison sentence.
The court ordered him to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) sessions and pay £841.53 in compensation to the taxi driver.
He must also pay £425 court costs and a victim surcharge of £187.
Speaking after the case Detective Inspector Darren Lillywhite from Sussex Police said:
“Ahmed had been refused a fare when he decided to take the taxi outside the South Terminal.
“His driving was so reckless that police were not able to continue pursuing him because of the risk it posed to other road users and officers.
“Our colleagues from NPAS tracked him, and fortunately our colleagues from Warwickshire Police RPU were able to catch him and make the arrest.
“Ahmed is very lucky not to have caused serious harm to either himself, our officers, or other road users. His driving was appalling.”