Engine flew from car in 100mph chase crash

Umar Aziz was taken to hospital for treatment after officers found him in the passenger footwell of his Vauxhall Corsa, which had smashed into traffic lights on Trinity Street.

Aziz was jailed for 14 months after Judge Tom Gilbart heard how he was on licence at the time following a prison sentence for rape and drug dealing and already had two previous convictions for driving offences.

Jack Troup, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court how 36-year-old Aziz came to the attention of police in the early hours of August 25 last year.

He was driving a Vauxhall Corsa on Higher Bridge Street just before 2am but an officer on patrol became suspicious after he sped up when he saw him.

Aziz, who had been using cocaine, went even faster when the officer turned on his emergency lights, reaching speeds of more than 100mph at some points, overtaking other vehicles and careering through red traffic light during the seven-minute chase.

Aziz drove at 80mph on Moss Bank Way, which has a 40mph limit, before reaching 90mph on Captain’s Clough Road.

Umar Aziz

At Chorley Old Road, Aziz drove on the wrong side of the road at speed and on Wigan Road, which has a 30mph limit, the vehicle topped 100mph.

“The incident started to come to an end when the Vauxhall Corsa collided with a kerb driving round a right-hand bend onto Moor Lane – the officer describes the car as jumping,” said Mr Troup.

“On Trinity Street it seems the driver of the vehicle lost control and collided with a set of traffic lights. Such was the force with which the vehicle struck the traffic lights that the engine of the Vauxhall Corsa is said to have ejected from the vehicle.”

“Mr Aziz was found by PC Ashworth in the passenger footwell having been thrown there by the collision.”

Crashed Corsa

Aziz, of no fixed address, tested positive for cocaine.

The court heard that in 2008 Aziz was convicted of dangerous and drug-driving and the following year he was sentenced for drug-driving and driving while banned.

In 2009 Aziz was also jailed for 11 years for raping two women and drug dealing, and had been released on licence when he committed his latest offences.

Aziz admitted dangerous driving and drug-driving.

Anna Bond, defending, said Aziz had taken the cocaine several hours before he drove but “panicked” when he saw police, fearing that the drug might still be in his system.

“Thankfully, nobody was injured in the incident,” she added.

The court was told that Aziz has “issues” with substance misuse and is seeking help to deal with it and his mental health.

As well as jailing Aziz, Judge Gilbart also banned Aziz from driving for four years and seven months.

“This was a quite appalling piece of driving,” the judge told him.

“It was fairly prolonged, you travelled at grossly high speeds and you utterly disregarded the safety of others as you selfishly pursued your own interests.”