Banned driver who killed partner gets nine years

A drugged-up driver who killed his girlfriend when he lost control of his car and crashed into a wall has been jailed for nine years and nine months.

Samir Amjid, 24, had been driving at speeds of up to 87mph (140km/h) prior to the crash which killed Khadija Mahmood, 20, in Baldwin Lane, near Clayton, in April 2024.

Bradford Crown Court heard Amjid, who had been banned from driving two weeks before the collision, had been consuming cannabis and nitrous oxide.

Honorary Recorder of Bradford Judge Jonathan Rose told Amjid, from Keighley: "You know and expect you will spend several years in prison for your crimes but, unlike Khadija, you will have a life after you are released."

He added: "For this young lady she will never have the opportunity to watch her family grow, or start a family herself, or start the business she had set her mind on."

Prosecutor Paul Mitchell told the court a witness had seen Amjid's Audi RS3 pass by before the crash and said both the driver and passenger had black balloons in their hands and mouths.

Another witness, who was overtaken by Ajmid, said the Audi had been tailgating him before it went "flying past and [was] gone in a breath".

He said he then heard a bang and saw the Audi in a field on fire.

The court was told Amjid has been driving at 87mph (140km/h) on approach and at the point of contact with the wall the car was travelling at 65mph (105km/h). The legal limit on the road was 30mph (50km/h).

Mitchell said at the scene, Amjid, had asked a witness not to tell anyone he had been driving because "he was a banned driver".

The car had no MOT, the tyre tread was below the legal minimum depth and neither occupants were wearing seat belts, he added.

Police found a large can of nitrous oxide in the car and several balloons.

Judge Rose said Amjid's behaviour had been "reckless, dangerous and wilful" and that he had ignored previous warnings to change his behaviour.

In May 2023, Amjid had been stopped by a police officer who told him "if he continued as he was he would kill someone". At that point he had 11 points on his licence.

On 26 March 2024 he was disqualified from driving after receiving more than 12 points.

At a first hearing at Bradford Magistrates Court Amjid claimed he was not driving and the driver had "run off", but later changed his plea to guilty.

Speaking in his defence, barrister Richard Canning said Amjid was "genuinely remorseful for the family of the deceased".

He said: "He lost a long-term partner and has struggled with the guilt of this for a long time.

"His remorse is genuine and will live with him for the rest of his life."

However, Judge Rose said Amjid's remorse had not kicked in "until you received robust advise from lawyers".

Amjid was sentenced to nine years and nine months for death by dangerous driving, 18 months for causing death by driving while disqualified and three years for causing death by driving while uninsured, to run concurrently.

Addressing members of Mahmood's family present in court, Judge Rose said: "I offer my condolences and hope they have found some small measure of comfort."

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