Teenage driver narrowly misses people before ‘shocking’ crash into building

The driver tried to outdrive police and then ran away from his car after crashing it into a building

A young man narrowly missed pedestrians after crashing into a city centre building. Mohammed Halani, 19, was driving an Audi S3 at around 1pm on May 24 when he failed to stop for police in Lincoln Road, Peterborough.

He sped off and ignored bollards and no entry signs and drove dangerously in a busy area. Officers had to slow down their driving to avoid pedestrians.

Halani continued driving dangerously before losing control of the vehicle. He crashed into a building in Westgate, causing two people to jump out of the way.

The 19-year-old ran from the scene, dashed through the Queensgate shopping centre, and attempted to hide in a restaurant in Westgate. Officers found him sitting at a table in the restaurant and arrested him.

Halani, of Audley Gate, Netherton, admitted to failing to stop, dangerous driving, and driving without insurance. On Tuesday (July 28) at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, he was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 15 days rehabilitation activity. He has been disqualified from driving for two years.

PC Martyn Chapman said: “This was a shocking incident that could easily have been far worse. Halani narrowly missed multiple pedestrians when he collided with the building on what was a busy Sunday over a bank holiday weekend.

“A matter of milliseconds was the difference between at least two people being seriously injured – or worse. It is remarkable nobody was hurt.”