Skipton Man Jailed for Terrifying Pedestrians with Dangerous Driving Rampage
A 25-year-old Skipton man has been locked up for 20 months and slapped with a 30-month driving ban after terrorising a group of pedestrians who asked him to slow down.
Fury on the Streets
Jonaid Ul Hassan, from Brougham Street, pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court on 8 November to dangerous driving, criminal damage, affray, and possessing an offensive weapon. The chaos unfolded on 29 August 2022 when Ul Hassan was behind the wheel of a rented white Audi in Skipton.
The drama began after a group of five pedestrians, including a child, asked him to slow down. Instead of calming, Ul Hassan flew into a rage. Two adults and a 5-year-old sought safety inside a stranger’s car after a motorist stopped to check on them.
Threats, Chase, and Vandalism
Ul Hassan returned to confront the remaining couple with a friend who issued chilling threats: “keep walking so we know where you live.” Terrified, the couple split up— the man hailed a lift, while the woman hid by the canal.
As the woman’s friends arrived to get her, Ul Hassan chased their car, smashing it repeatedly with a weapon. Police received multiple reports of the reckless white Audi.
Dashcam footage captured Ul Hassan attacking the victim’s vehicle in a Tesco car park, causing nearly £5,000 in damage.
The victims, fearing for their lives, were advised by police to drive straight to Skipton Police Station. Ul Hassan was later arrested between Skipton and Keighley by West Yorkshire Police.
Justice Served
“Ul Hassan not only put his victims in absolute fear for their life but showed total disregard for public safety as he chased the victims through Skipton,” said Inspector Julie Earnshaw. “His actions could have been catastrophic. I’m glad justice has caught up with him.”
His sentence totals 20 months behind bars with all terms running concurrently, plus a 30-month driving ban and a £187 surcharge. The breakdown includes:
- 10 months for dangerous driving, including the driving ban and compulsory extended driving course
- 20 months for affray
- 2 months for criminal damage
- 9 months for possession of an offensive weapon—a baseball bat
