News RSS Feed


Spared jail - the car chase criminal who found religion

8:50am Thursday 29th July 2010 in


A man who twice led police on car chases through built-up areas has been spared a jail sentence after turning to Islam.

Jamal Mohammed Al-Gani – who changed his name from John Harriott by deed poll – drove at 70mph along Newtown Road, Worcester, which has a 30mph speed limit.

A police inspector ordered a patrol car to stop the chase when it became too dangerous to continue, said William Rickarby, prosecuting. Next day, Al-Gani phoned police, gave a registration number of the Ford Fiesta car, and lied that it had been stolen in a bid to avoid prosecution.

Three months later he evaded police in Stafford who tried to pen his Mini in with two patrol cars, Worcester Crown Court was told. During the chase, Al-Gani drove through red traffic lights and passed a keep-left sign by driving on the wrong side of the road.

But Al-Gani, aged 22, of Shetland Close, Worcester, converted to Islam and was now drug and alcohol-free.

Judge Toby Hooper QC said his converson was “a great blessing” and meant he had begun to take his life seriously.

He said the risk to the public could be dealt with by a two-year community order during which Al-Gani would undergo a thinking skills course run by the probation service.

He was also banned from driving for a year and told to take an extended re-test.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, attempting to pervert the course of justice, failing to stop and obstructing police.

The Worcester chase happened on March 29 last year after police spotted the Fiesta entering a junction at Rainbow Hill at speed.

One officer recognised him before he stopped. But Al-Gani ignored an order to get out of the car and drove off, said Mr Rickarby. The car was eventually abandoned.

On June 1 last year police saw him parked outside a Stafford pub. But he sped off before he was detained after driving into a cul-de-sac.

He had a record for possession of an imitation firearm, drugs, assault on police and public disorder. Charles Hamer, for Al-Gani, said he was brought up a Christian but described himself as the black sheep of the family.

His conversion while in prison for assault had made him remorseful and he was now committed to a different way of life.

The judge warned Al-Gani that if he did not “recover the straight and narrow” and breached the community order, he would face a jail sentence of more than 12 months.

Comments(14)

Tulstar says...
9:34am Thu 29 Jul 10

Cool... I'm off out at the weekend to rob a bank. *

Then I'll just hide the money, practise Buddhism or go and throw a few Christian leaflets at people on Worcester high street and I'll get off relatively scott-free..!

*obviously, I'm not.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

crowquill says...
9:41am Thu 29 Jul 10

And they wonder why people have no faith in the British justice system anymore!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dereck says...
10:47am Thu 29 Jul 10

Right, now that he says he has found religion, he should want to put matters right and atone for his wrong doing by paying the price of his lawlessness. From what we read of his driving when evading capture society is lucky not to be morning some innocient persons death.
What are the odds that he will be up to his old 'tricks' within a short time -that is as soon as he stops laughing at the Judge!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

mack18 says...
11:25am Thu 29 Jul 10

I wonder what the Police officers involved in both incidents are feeling -whats the b****y point?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Tulstar says...
11:38am Thu 29 Jul 10

mack18 wrote:
I wonder what the Police officers involved in both incidents are feeling -whats the b****y point?
Yep. Totally agree.

Police officers must get so frustrated when they learn of the sentencing that some of these people receive.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Malvern says...
12:40pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Meanwhile a man in Glasgow gets sentenced to 2 years in prison for pulling the veil from a ladies face.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jb says...
1:33pm Thu 29 Jul 10

Obviously the Judge hasn't heard that many prisoners are 'converting' to Islam whilst in prison in order to gain the perks that are afforded to inmates who follow this religion. Would he have got the same light sentence and idiotic remarks from the judge if he had become a born again christian? I think not. This is religious discrimination of the most vile kind. This idiot has jumped on the band wagon knowing that the PC brigade are too afraid to ignore his 'I'm a good boy now I follow Islam' routine. Sickening!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jarlin says...
2:46pm Thu 29 Jul 10

This is totally unbelievable! So I take it that from this point on, we can all break the law in one way or another, and as long as we find 'God' we will be able to get away with it! When oh when will the poor excuse we have for a justice system in this country, finally carry out what I'm sure the majority of the public want, and deal out punishments and not bow to the minority of do gooders, and judges who seem to have no idea what justice is!. It is time we demanded a system where those who break the law pay the price!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

crowquill says...
3:25pm Thu 29 Jul 10

"It is time we demanded a system where those who break the law pay the price"
Absolutely and I think literally. At the very least they should work out what all this has cost the taxpayer, double it and fine him that amount!

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

sir james says...
3:47pm Thu 29 Jul 10

I wonder why you lot aren`t being accused of being Nick Griffin by the unemployed "burkas" who post on the other threads?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Dereck says...
6:30pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Could we have a translation. for the previous posting, please? Just in case we are missing something profound.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

amilo says...
4:54pm Sat 31 Jul 10

so the message is,if your an islamist you can indulge your self in petty crime to your hearts content. Things can only get worse.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jamal al-ghani says...
1:10am Sun 20 Nov 11

Dereck wrote:
Right, now that he says he has found religion, he should want to put matters right and atone for his wrong doing by paying the price of his lawlessness. From what we read of his driving when evading capture society is lucky not to be morning some innocient persons death. What are the odds that he will be up to his old 'tricks' within a short time -that is as soon as he stops laughing at the Judge!
im still not up to my old tricks my friend.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

jamal al-ghani says...
1:16am Sun 20 Nov 11

jb wrote:
Obviously the Judge hasn't heard that many prisoners are 'converting' to Islam whilst in prison in order to gain the perks that are afforded to inmates who follow this religion. Would he have got the same light sentence and idiotic remarks from the judge if he had become a born again christian? I think not. This is religious discrimination of the most vile kind. This idiot has jumped on the band wagon knowing that the PC brigade are too afraid to ignore his 'I'm a good boy now I follow Islam' routine. Sickening!
still a muslim still drug and alcohol free still have not reofended.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

More News stories


Drunken sea cadet officer punched wing mirrors off cars Spared jail - the car chase criminal who found religion

Most popular



Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses