Man dragged partner into car and fled police in ‘terrifying ordeal’

The woman refused to enter the man’s car, before she was grabbed by her hands and forced into a vehicle

A man who forced his partner into a car and drove recklessly to try and avoid police has been jailed. Aamir Mahmood, 33, approached the victim in Thorpe Road, Peterborough at around 3pm on February 5, 2025.

Mahmood tried to persuade her to get into his Volkswagen Golf, however she refused and tried to flee. The 33-year-old then grabbed the woman’s hands, dragged her into his car and forced her into the passenger’s seat.

A nearby resident heard the victim screaming and approached the vehicle to check on her. When she replied she wasn’t ok, Mahmood claimed she was fine and drove away.

Police were called and the car was located in Princes Street, Peterborough around 20 minutes later. Officers signalled for the car to stop, but Mahmood ignored them and sped away.

During the pursuit, Mahmood told his partner that if they crashed, he would “drive into a wall on your side so you die first”. Mahmood carried out dangerous overtakes on narrow streets and came close to crashing into another vehicle.

Officers temporarily lost sight of the Golf, but they soon found it had crashed at the junction of Park Road and Princes Street, after crashing into another car. Mahmood fled from the driver’s side of the car, but he was chased on foot by police and arrested.

The victim was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with minor injuries. Mahmood, of Huntly Grove, Peterborough, admitted false imprisonment and dangerous driving.

On July 17 at Peterborough Crown Court, he was sentenced to six years in prison. He was also disqualified from driving.

Detective Constable Joshua Crown, who investigated, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victim, who was forcibly taken against her will and was then powerless as Mahmood put her at great risk by driving so dangerously.

“Mahmood selfishly showed a complete disregard for her safety, the safety of other road users and the officers trying to stop him.

“Thanks to the swift actions of witnesses and responding officers, he was quickly brought into custody and has now faced the consequences of his actions.”