Driver who led cops on dangerous 115mph chase is let off after judge told his cousin, 16, had just been knifed to death

A DRIVER who led police on a 115mph car chase was spared jail today after a court heard his cousin had been stabbed to death hours earlier.

Idris Sabir has gone out in his car to "clear his head" following the death of 16-year-old Humza Hussain on June 8 this year.

Sabir, 23, who was already banned from driving, sped off when officers spotted him in the early hours of the next morning.

Luton Crown Court was today told he drove the wrong way around the roundabout at Junction 11 of the M1 at Luton, Bedfordshire, before speeding down the motorway at 115mph - all while being pursued by police.

Prosecutor Daniel Siong said he then left the motorway to drive back down the southbound carriageway, still being followed by officers.

Sabir drove on the hard shoulder through roadworks touching speeds of up to 105mph.

Recorder Andrew Johnson was told Sabir left the motorway at Junction 11 before racing into the Bury Park area of Luton where he abandoned his car and made off on foot.

Cops quickly caught up with him and he was arrested.

Sabir admitted dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop for police and using a car with no insurance.

The court heard how only a month earlier he landed a six-month driving ban after amassing 12 penalty points on his licence.

DANGEROUS CHASE

Fiona McAddy, defending, said just hours before the car chase Sabir's cousin, Humza, had been knifed to death.

He was stabbed on Stoneygate Road near Challney High School for Boys at around 4pm, but was pronounced dead in hospital two hours later.

Ms McAddy said her client had spent the evening with his grief-stricken family before going out late at night to "clear his head".

The barrister added: "The fact that he had been disqualified hadn’t been on his mind.

"He was not thinking which he attributes to the shock and grief he was in.

"His cousin to whom he was close had been murdered that afternoon."

She said he now understood the seriousness of what he had done and was genuinely remorseful.

He was not thinking which he attributes to the shock and grief he was in.

Fiona McAddy, defending

Passing sentence, Recorder Johnson told Sabir that having heard the background, he could take the unusual step of passing a suspended sentence.

Referring to a letter Sabir had written to the court, Recorder Johnson said: "You have said you have never felt pain like that before and you got behind the wheel as a way of getting away from what was going on."

Sabir was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and he will have to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

In addition, he will be the subject of a three-month home curfew between the hours of 7pm and 6am.

Sabir was also told he must attend a Thinking Skills programme as well as a 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

A boy aged 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with the murder of Humza on 8 June.

He is also accused of possessing a bladed article.