A driver who deliberately hit four people after speeding towards them has been jailed. 

Choudry Qamar Azad Razaq, 25, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years following a sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, 29 September. 

He had been found guilty of four counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following a trial at the same venue on Wednesday, 16 August. 

Razaq was arrested at Heathrow Airport some 15 hours after the collision, on Sunday 25 September 2022, after detectives identified him as the lead suspect and put border checks in place.  

Razaq was in the process of fleeing to Pakistan. 

Razaq had never passed a driving test. As a result of previous driving convictions, he was ordered to take an extended test, which was never completed. 

On 24 September 2022, Razaq drove to a pub in Kingsley Road, Hounslow and spent the evening there. 

After the pub closed, Razaq and his friends became involved in an altercation with two males, one of whom he was seen to punch in the face. 

The two males attacked by Razaq then walked off, however Razaq got into his car and sped away.  

He drove on to the pavement on Kingsley Road and hit four friends who were uninvolved in the altercation and were making their way home. 

It was the prosecution case that Razaq mistakenly believed they were with the males with whom he had earlier been involved in an altercation with.  

However, they were not connected to them at all and were simply innocent passers-by. 

The White Bear pub was were Razaq crashed into the men (credit: google maps).

The four victims all suffered serious injuries, one was in a coma and remained in hospital for several months. 

Razaq, who suffered a minor injury in the altercation outside the pub and who came away unscathed in the collision, drove away from the scene and parked the car behind his father's garage. 

Detectives from Acton CID immediately began an investigation and through witness statements and CCTV, identified Razaq as the driver of the car. 

Detective Constable Hollie Collins, the lead officer in the case, said: "I am pleased that the significant sentence handed down to Razaq reflects the serious nature of this offence. 

"Razaq's merciless and unprovoked attack will affect the four victims and their families for the rest of their lives. 

"It was due to the speedy work of the team of investigators that Razaq was arrested so quickly and prevented from evading justice by fleeing the country. 

"Thankfully, all the victims involved survived, but their lives will never be the same and they continue to struggle with the after effects of this shocking offence." 

"Hopefully this verdict will go some way to providing them the peace of mind that they so rightly deserve.   

"I'd like to thank the victims and their families for their unwavering courage, resilience and patience throughout this investigation." 

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