A drug dealer speeded and crashed into a bus just months after being released from prison for his part in killing an ex-Mayoress of Bolton.
Wasim Iqbal, 26, was jailed more than two years ago for causing death by dangerous driving after taking part in a race that killed former Mayoress Gay Wharton as she crossed Chorley New Road.
Bolton Crown Court heard that just months after Iqbal’s release this year, a BMW was seen by police being driven on July 5 on the very same road Mrs Wharton had been hit on.
Prosecutor Alison Whalley said: “There was intelligence to suggest it was being driven by the defendant and that the defendant was of course disqualified at the time.”
Iqbal had been jailed in June 2021 for four years and two months after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving following Mrs Wharton’s death.
He had been racing the now 26-year-old Assad Hussain on Friday November 13 when Mrs Wharton was struck by Hussain’s car.
Both drivers fled the scene where 58-year-old Mrs Wharton, who served as the borough’s Mayoress in 2014, died of her injuries.
Hussain, of Maplewood Gardens, Halliwell, was jailed for seven years and four months after also pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
But as of this year, despite still serving a ban Iqbal, now of Chester Road, Manchester, was on the roads again when police gave chase on July 5.
He had been released halfway through his sentence and was on licence at the time.
Ms Whalley told the court how the 26-year-old reached speeds of up to 80mph and drove through three sets of traffic lights in a bid to escape the pursuing officers.
At one point he drove on the wrong side of a junction and up through a busy Bradshawgate before eventually hitting a bus, though he had slowed down by this point.
Iqbal and a group of other men fled the crashed BMW on foot before he was arrested.
The officers also found 62 wraps of cocaine in the car, worth around £1,800 which appeared to indicate “classic street dealing.”
Iqbal, who has five previous convictions for 18 offences, gave no comment when interviewed by police.
But he eventually pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving while banned.
Brought into the dock dressed in a dark blue t-shirt, Iqbal also pleaded guilty to possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
Oliver Jarvis, defending, said that Iqbal had earned credit by pleading guilty and said he had been “frank and open with the court.”
He said he had “come to a remorseful position.”
ALSO READ: Judge jails dangerous driving racers who killed former Bolton mayoress Gay Wharton
ALSO READ: Friends and family pay tribute to former Bolton mayoress Gay Wharton
Concerning the most recent driving itself, Mr Jarvis said: “I suppose the only point that I’ve got is that there was no injury to others.”
Deputy Circuit Judge Timothy Clayson accepted Iqbal’s guilty plea but reminded the court of his “appalling record” which also includes two other dangerous driving convictions.
Addressing the defendant, he said: “You caused damage, you certainly brought about no end of risk to people.”
Judge Clayson sentenced Iqbal to a total of four years and three months in prison and banned him from driving for a total of six years and six weeks.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article