A 19-year-old from Peterborough has been handed a suspended prison sentence after a dangerous driving incident in the city centre that saw his car crash into a building and narrowly miss pedestrians. The case was heard at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on 28 July.
Police pursuit ends in collision on Westgate
Mohammed Halani, of Audley Gate, Netherton, admitted charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop and driving without insurance in relation to an incident on 24 May. Officers say the sequence began on Lincoln Road at about 1pm when the driver of an Audi S3 attempted to evade police at speed.
According to court material, Halani ignored traffic controls including keep-left bollards and no-entry signs as he continued to drive dangerously through a busy area. The vehicle ultimately lost control and struck a building on Westgate. Two members of the public were forced to leap out of the way to avoid being hit; there were no reported injuries.
"This was a shocking incident that could easily have been far worse,"
The comment above was made in relation to the case by PC Martyn Chapman, who said that only narrowly avoided serious harm for pedestrians made the incident particularly concerning. After the collision, the driver ran from the scene, moving through Queensgate shopping centre and attempting to hide in a Cowgate restaurant. CCTV operators located him inside the premises and he was arrested there.
Sentence and orders imposed
Magistrates sentenced Halani to a 12-month prison term which was suspended. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and to attend 15 days of rehabilitation activity. In addition, Halani faces a two-year driving disqualification.
- Offences admitted: dangerous driving, failing to stop, driving without insurance
- Location of incident: Lincoln Road, Westgate, Queensgate shopping centre and Cowgate
- Outcome: suspended custodial sentence, unpaid work, rehabilitation days, driving ban
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Mohammed Halani, 19, Audley Gate, Netherton |
| Incident date | 24 May (around 1pm) |
| Court hearing | Peterborough Magistrates' Court, 28 July |
| Penalties | 12-month suspended sentence; 200 hours unpaid work; 15 rehab days; two-year driving ban |
The case has prompted officers to highlight how quickly a routine city-centre scene can become dangerous when motorists disregard traffic controls and refuse to stop. The involvement of CCTV operators in tracking and securing the arrest underlines the role of surveillance and rapid information-sharing in resolving incidents in busy public spaces.
For residents and visitors, the episode serves as a reminder to exercise caution near traffic and to report reckless driving to police. Anyone with information about dangerous driving incidents in Peterborough can contact Cambridgeshire Constabulary through its non-emergency channels.
