Bolton: Video shows dangerous driver flee from police

Wasim Iqbal was imprisoned around two and a half years ago for his role in a race which led to the death of the late Gay Wharton on Chorley New Road back in 2020.

On July 5 this year, months after he was released from prison, he was reported by a member of the public for being back behind the wheel despite a disqualification. He was therefore unlicensed and uninsured at the time.

Officers from GMP's Safer Roads Targeting Team tracked his BMW to Chorley New Road but he fled from police at speed, through red lights and on the wrong side of the road, coming to a stop after crashing into a bus.

Iqbal, of Chester Road in the city centre, was arrested and was charged with dangerous driving and disqualified driving as well as the possession with intent to supply class A drugs after the discovery of cocaine in his car.

At Bolton Crown Court this week he was sentenced to an additional four years and three months in prison.

PC Matt Sale and PC Tom Berry, of GMP's Safer Roads Targeting Team, said: "Iqbal's actions show he has not learnt by his mistakes which saw him spend time in prison for causing death by dangerous driving back in 2020.

"During this pursuit he sped past the scene where he and his co-accused caused the death of Mayoress Gay Wharton only three years prior. His disregard for the law could have been fatal but thankfully this was not the case. 

"This sentencing sees another dangerous driver off the streets and it is another step towards making the roads of Greater Manchester a safer place to be, something about which the Safer Roads Targeting Team are passionate.

"We encourage the public to let us know about unlicensed and uninsured drivers like Iqbal so they can be taken off the streets and brought to justice."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.