Driver fleeing brawl 'hit two pedestrians'

Jobless Mohammed Tariq crashed into his two victims as he tried to drive away from the violent outburst in Tipton.

The 41-year-old came before Judge Simon Ward for sentence, who branded the case the 'worst' of its type he had dealt with.

Sitting at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday, the judge said: "Your driving was so careless that you hit two pedestrians and caused them both injury.

"The reason you were there and driving in this way was entirely your choice. You were driving aggressively and too fast."

The huge brawl, which had been planned, erupted into the streets surrounding one of the town's mosques after perpetrators jumped out of two BMWs on July 19 last year.

Tariq, of Watsons Close, Dudley, was at a barbecue when he was told about the fight, arriving soon after it had begun with a man who armed himself and joined the clash.

The defendant tried to drive away from the fight scene after his car windscreen was smashed but was unable to see clearly through his damaged vehicle.

He crashed into a man, who was thrown into the air before landing on the ground, and struck a woman after mounting the pavement.

The male victim, who was searching for his son during the fight, was left with bruising and grazing, the court was told.

But the woman was forced to use walking sticks following the collision and cannot leave the house unaided.

Within half-an-hour of smashing into his victims, Tariq reported his car as stolen but later claimed he had been pressured into lying to officers.

Defence barrister Miss Blondelle Thompson said Tariq, who handed himself into police, was 'ashamed' to find himself at court.

Tariq, who admitted careless driving and perverting the course of justice, was handed a six-month sentence suspended for one year, with a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was fined £120, must pay a victim surcharge and was handed a one-year driving ban.