Driver who killed 12-year-old crossing road on his bike jailed as 'dark history' on roads uncovered

Azaan Khan was crossing the Coventry Road successful Yardley connected his bicycle erstwhile helium was fatally struck by a reddish BMW. Shazad Alam was jailed for much than 8 years astatine Birmingham Crown Court

A reckless operator who fatally struck a 12-year-old lad portion speeding has been sentenced to implicit 8 years successful prison.

Azaan Khan was crossing Coventry Road successful Yardley connected his motorcycle erstwhile helium was tragically hit by a reddish BMW. The antheral down the wheel, 34-year-old Shazad Alam, had been recklessly weaving done postulation and utilizing the autobus lane to overtake different drivers, who reported proceeding the 'aggressive roaring' of his motor arsenic helium sped past.

It's believed that Alam's was driving astatine speeds of up to 62mph astatine the constituent of collision, acold exceeding the 40mph velocity limit. Birmingham Crown Court heard contiguous that Alam had antecedently been banned from driving twice, successful 2019 and 2022, for offences including speeding astatine 75mph connected different 40mph road.

Alam, from Lowesmoor Road, Sheldon, pleaded blameworthy to causing decease by unsafe driving and was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months, 2 thirds of which helium volition service successful custody. He was besides disqualified from driving for 7 years from the constituent of his release.

Judge Kristina Montgomery KC concluded that Alam was 'irritated' by slow-moving postulation and showed implicit disregard for the hazard to others. The fatal incidental occurred astir 6.15pm connected June 8 past year. Despite the champion efforts of exigency services, Azaan was pronounced dormant astatine the scene, reports Birmingham Live.

At the heartrending trial, Zoe Homer, the shattered parent of Azaan Khan, relayed to the tribunal however her lad represented her 'best friend' and 'better half', coating a vivid representation of a lad who was 'beautiful, clever and incredibly funny'. She disclosed: "I didn't conscionable suffer Azaan I mislaid the aboriginal I thought we had together. I mislaid each of myself."

Despite being 35 weeks pregnant, Zoe recounted rushing to the horrific scene, confessing that the calamity near her 'completely and utterly broken'. Azaan's dad, Jakir Khan, shared his anguish arsenic well, recollecting the devastating infinitesimal helium cradled his son's lifeless form. He recounted: "He was ever the smartest idiosyncratic successful the room, had a large consciousness of humour and charm similar nary other. His grin and charisma filled each country helium was in."

In an affectional statement, Mr Khan revealed helium has been haunted by 'unbearable emptiness and darkness' since the accident, expressing to the suspect Alam that helium tin ne'er beryllium forgiven for instilling successful him the piercing sensation of failing to safeguard his child.

Prosecutor Sarah Slater enlightened the tribunal astir Azaan's past moments, explaining the youngster and 2 companions had deed Arif and Sons store connected Coventry Road for sweets earlier they headed to a pedestrian crossing connected the aforesaid road. While Azaan pedalled down connected his bicycle, his friends crossed safely; tragically, helium was deed mid-crossing by Alam's reddish BMW.

Eyewitnesses painted a chilling picture, 1 remarking connected the 'aggressive revving and accelerating' of Alam’s engine, portion different operator remembered Alam undertaking and past slashing crossed his way straight earlier the impact. Another witnesser observed Alam exploiting the autobus lane to dodge traffic, followed by merciless acceleration.

Azaan was declared dormant astatine the scene. A post-mortem introspection determined that helium died from aggregate injuries, chiefly to his caput and chest. A collision probe concluded that Alam was driving betwixt 49.7mph to 54mph connected Coventry Road earlier accelerating to betwixt 53.8mph and 62.7mph astatine the constituent of impact. Judge Montgomery stated: "Your 2 erstwhile disqualifications should person been a important informing to you that the rules of the roadworthy indispensable beryllium respected to guarantee safety, not conscionable to the operator but to those who possibly successful his path."

She further added that helium made a 'deliberate determination to disregard the rules of the road' and 'demonstrated a disregard for the hazard of information to others'. The justice acknowledged his remorse for the consequences of the mishap but noted that Alam had minimised his ain work by failing to recognise helium was driving dangerously, anterior to yet pleading guilty.

In a letter, Alam expressed: "No magnitude of words tin explicit however atrocious I americium for the nonaccomplishment I caused to Azaan's family. I privation to apologise to them profusely. The tragic mistake I made connected the 8th of June past twelvemonth volition unrecorded with maine everlastingly and Azaan volition stay successful the my prayers and the prayers of my family."

Harry Lally, defending, said that Alam initially 'couldn't bear' to instrumentality work for taking the beingness of a child. He informed the tribunal that Alam had worked for Jaguar Land Rover since 2012, and successful a tragic twist of fate, had welcomed the commencement of his ain lad 3 days earlier the accident.

Mr Lally stated: "It was a infinitesimal of madness. It was stupidity. He shouldn't person driven successful that manner. He knows helium volition ne'er beryllium forgiven for what helium did. He volition everlastingly commune for forgiveness but it whitethorn ne'er come."