Two Keighley men have been jailed for a combined 20 years and one month after dragging a lone woman from her car during a violent car-jacking in the town.
Imran Altaf was jailed for 12 years, while Dawood Basharat received eight years and one month at Bradford Crown Court.
His Honour Judge Jonathan Carroll described the attack as an “absolutely vicious street robbery and car-jacking”.
The court heard the woman was sitting alone in her car in Keighley at around 8pm on April 10 last year when Altaf and Basharat pulled up beside her.
Woman Tried To Cling To Steering Wheel
Prosecutor Rachel Webster said Basharat initially behaved “in a peculiar manner”, opening the woman’s door and touching her hands and arms before trying to get into the car.
She attempted to close the door but was grabbed and pushed back.
The court heard one of the men then shouted: “Get her in the back.”
The woman realised her keys had been taken and began fighting to remain in the driver’s seat.
She grabbed the steering wheel tightly so she could not be moved.
Kicked In Chest And Punched In Head
Mrs Webster told the court that Altaf then kicked the woman twice in the chest and struck her in the head.
Basharat tried to sit on her and move her across the seat.
The court also heard that Basharat touched the woman inappropriately during the attack.
Despite her resistance, the pair eventually dragged her out of the car.
They then got inside and drove away, leaving her at the scene.
Victim Feared She Would Be Killed
The woman called 999 after the attack.
She had also managed to take photographs of both men.
In a statement read to the court, she said the incident had left her shocked and terrified.
She said the pair had behaved “as if they were not human”.
“At one point I feared they were going to kill me,” she said.
“I thought I was going to be kidnapped.”
She added that the men had laughed at her during the attack, leaving her feeling powerless.
“I am utterly terrified that they will come looking for me,” she said.
Police Chase On Stanningley Bypass
Police later spotted the stolen car on Stanningley Bypass.
Altaf, who was driving, attempted to evade officers by braking harshly and carrying out U-turns.
The pursuit ended when a police officer made tactical contact with the stolen vehicle.
Altaf ran from the car but was tackled to the ground and arrested.
Basharat, who was in the passenger seat, was also detained.
The victim subsequently identified both men during an identification procedure.
Judge Says Attack Caused ‘Significant Fear’
Sentencing Altaf, Judge Carroll said he had caused “significant fear” while trying to drag the victim from her vehicle.
The judge said excessive fear and violence had been used during the attack.
Addressing Basharat, he said: “You were part and parcel of an absolutely vicious street robbery and car-jacking.”
Altaf Also Sentenced For Earlier Police Chase
Altaf was also sentenced over an earlier dangerous-driving incident which took place around a month before the car-jacking.
The court heard he had fled from police and reversed towards an officer on foot in an apparent attempt to hit him.
He then reversed into a police car before driving away again.
Altaf later abandoned the vehicle and ran off, throwing away a plastic bag as he fled.
Heroin And Cocaine Found
Police eventually caught Altaf after using Pava incapacitant spray.
The court heard he initially raised his fists before officers produced a Taser.
Altaf then backed away, ran off again and tried to get into an address before being arrested after resisting.
Officers recovered £436 in cash and a Nokia mobile phone.
The plastic bag Altaf had discarded contained 36 bags of heroin and 17 wraps of cocaine with an estimated value of £530.
Previous Convictions
Altaf, 31, of Harewood Crescent, Oakworth, Keighley, had four previous convictions covering six offences.
Those included assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Basharat, 39, of Highfield Road, Keighley, had eight convictions covering 15 offences, including assaulting emergency workers and driving matters.
Defence Says Drugs And Alcohol Fuelled Offending
The court heard in mitigation that Altaf’s offending had been fuelled by alcohol and drugs.
His defence said he had since overcome those addictions.
His behaviour was described as “moronic”, while his driving was said to have been “idiotic”.
Basharat was described as “very much a junior partner” in the car-jacking.
However, it was accepted that he should have intervened to stop the violence being inflicted on the woman.
More Than 20 Years Between Them
Judge Carroll sentenced Altaf to a total of 12 years in prison.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years, with a further six-year extension to reflect the custodial sentence, and must pass an extended re-test before driving again.
Basharat was jailed for eight years and one month.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the cash seized from Altaf and the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.
Basharat was later pictured smiling in his police mugshot.
