Teen driver avoids jail after crashing car into family home near Hastings
The 19-year-old was behind the wheel of his father's BMW at the time
A teenage driver who crashed his father's car into a house in East Sussex following a high-speed pursuit has avoided jail.
19-year-old Samin Ahmed from Bromley reached speeds of more than 130mph in the BMW prior to the collision in the early hours of February 16th.
The BMW he was in left Coombe Valley Way and collided with the building in Church Lane in Westfield, near Hastings.
A family were left unable to live in the property for several months after it was left with structural damage costing an estimated £357,000.
Ahmed, formerly a security doorman, of Tavistock Road, Bromley, admitted dangerous driving and causing criminal damage.
At Lewes Crown Court on November 7th, he was sentenced and was disqualified from driving for two years.
How the crash unfolded
RPU officer PC Lloyd Archer was on patrol and saw the BMW driven by Ahmed at excessive speed in Coombe Valley Way.
Ahmed had attempted a treble overtake.
The police patrol activated blue lights, but Ahmed reached speeds of 110mph to evade officers.
After travelling towards Bexhill he turned around at the roundabout junction with the A2691 and Mount View Street, and went back up the Coombe Valley Way towards Hastings at 130mph.
The speed limit on the A2690 is 60mph.
He turned left towards The Ridge and continued in excess of 100mph.
Ahmed travelled towards Westfield where he lost control and careered through the front of the house in Church Lane.
A family had been in the living room just minutes before the collision.
His DNA was found on the airbag which showed he had been driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Speaking at the case, PC Archer said:
"Ahmed’s reckless driving was appalling.
"He risked his own life as well as the safety of every other road user and resident, and is extremely lucky he did not cause a fatality that night.
"We are determined to catch offenders and to prevent drivers causing harm to themselves and innocent members of the public.
"So we are pleased that a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads."
Ahmed was sentenced to an 18-month suspended prison sentence and was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
He was also ordered to complete 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement sessions and to pay a £187 surcharge and £1,000 court costs.