Drink-driver butted police officer

A MOTORIST jailed for five years for killing an 82-year-old woman who he mowed down in his car, came out of prison only to be caught months later back behind the wheel and drink driving.

And when a policeman tried to arrest him, Nadeem Younas headbutted the officer in the face.

On Friday, Younas, of Norwich Road, Stevenage, was returned to jail and banned from driving for three years.

Luton Crown Court heard how in September 2002 Younas ran over and killed pensioner Marjorie Heskins as she tried to cross Sish Lane in Stevenage.

Younas, then 24, was disqualified from driving at the time for drink driving and fled the scene, abandoning his Peugeot 406 nearby.

Witnesses said the driver had been travelling at around 60mph when his car struck the 82-year-old throwing her onto the bonnet and smashing the windscreen.

Earlier he had been seen driving erratically and aggressively and two pedestrians had shouted at him to slow down.

Younas then got his wife, his brother and his father-in-law to provide him with a false alibi by claiming that he was in South London at the time of the collision.

At Luton Crown Court in January 2003 Younas pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance, failing to stop after an accident and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

He was jailed for five years and banned from driving for 10 years.

Last Friday, Younas appeared for sentence for drink driving, driving while disqualified, having no insurance, assaulting a police officer and obstructing an officer.

Bill McGivern, prosecuting, told how in the early hours of Monday, July 31, this year, 28-year-old Younas, who had been freed from his sentence on licence earlier in the year, was behind the wheel of a car in Grace Way, Stevenage.

It was there he came to the notice of a police officer who was in a marked police car and realised he was speeding.

The officer indicated for Younas to pull over, but instead he put his foot down and tried to make off at around 60mph turning off Grace Way into a series of minor side roads before pulling up.

The officer noticed Younas smelt of alcohol and he was arrested and cautioned.

Mr McGivern said Younas ran off but the officer gave chase and caught him only for Younas to break free again and make off for a second time.

The policeman was forced to use his disabling spray to subdue Younas who twice headbutted him.

It was only after a member of the public came to the officer's aid that the defendant was restrained and taken in the police car to Stevenage Police Station.

There he gave a false name and was found to be more than twice the legal drink drive limit.

After being cautioned he asked a police officer "Can we cut a deal?"

Recorder Michael Curwen was told Younas had previous convictions for dishonesty as a juvenile and had been sent to a young offenders' institution.

In 2001 he had been convicted of driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop after an accident and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

He had been the subject of that ban when he collided with Mrs Heskins in September 2002.

Defending, Helen McCormack said when Younas had been freed early from prison on licence in February of this year he had kept in contact with the probation service who were supervising him.

However, his problems began when he became concerned his sister was associating with a drug dealer.

On the night of the incident, she said he had been in a car following his sister who was in a car with the man.

Passing sentence Recorder Curwen said it was clear the five year sentence Younas had received had done little to alter his behaviour.

He ordered that he be recalled to prison to serve a further six months in relation to the 2003 sentence plus a further six months to run consecutive to that for the new offences.

In addition he was banned from driving for a further three years and six points were added to his licence.