Three thugs who 'used their cars as weapons' in a high speed chase which killed 80-year-old pensioner in front of her daughter are jailed for a total of 30 years
- Elizabeth Roberts, 80, died when BMW crashed head-on into her daughter's car
- The BMW was involved in a high speed chase after alteration between four men
- Sagar Taseem, Naqash Hussain, Kieran Flint and Samuel Franklin were involved
- BMW driver Taseem and his passenger Hussain were each jailed for 12 years, Franklin was handed six-year sentence and Flint fined £500 for careless driving
BMW driver Sagar Taseem, 26, ploughed into the car being driven by Elizabeth Roberts' daughter. He fled the scene and left the 80-year-old to die at the roadside
Three thugs who caused a horror crash which killed a pensioner while using their cars 'as weapons' during a high speed chase have been jailed for a total of 30 years.
Elizabeth Roberts, 80, died when a BMW speeding the wrong way down a dual carriageway ploughed head-on into her daughter's car in February 2017.
Mrs Roberts was pronounced dead at the scene in front of her daughter Sheena Wilson, who had been driving the car but could 'do nothing' to avoid the impact.
A court heard the crash was caused after three cars became involved in a nine-mile chase following an altercation between four men.
During the pursuit, the BMW was followed by a Volkswagen Jetta before the two cars collided in Gaydon, Warwickshire.
BMW driver Sagar Taseem ploughed into the car being driven by Elizabeth Roberts' daughter. He fled the scene and left the 80-year-old to die at the roadside.
The 26-year-old, who has epilepsy and had already been banned from driving, had been smoking cannabis when he got behind the wheel.
Taseem and his passenger Naqash Hussain, 29, were chasing a Ford Fiesta being driven by Kieran Flint, 21.
Samuel Franklin, 24, was chasing Taseem and Hussain in his Volkswagen Jetta.
The court heard how the four men had been chasing one another on the B4451 at 60mph and continued their pursuit after killing Mrs Roberts.
Sagar Taseem (left) and Naqash Hussain (right) outside court. The pair drove away after crashing into Mrs Roberts and her daughter
From left: Naqash Hussain, Kieran Flint and Samuel Franklin
Judge Sylvia de Bertodano said the men had been 'using their cars as weapons.'
He slammed them for showing no remorse and being more concerned for the 'situations they found themselves in' than for Mrs Roberts' life.
He added: 'It is an ironic aspect of this case that as they went past the Gaydon garage Mrs Wilson saw two cars speeding past, taking a roundabout the wrong way, and her first thought was that there was going to be an accident and she was glad she wouldn't be involved because they were ahead of her.
'But she and her mother never got as far as the motorway because a white BMW driven by Taseem drove up the same road in the face of oncoming traffic and collided head-on with her car.
'Mrs Wilson was present as her mother lay dying at the roadside, while the three of you, not hesitating to help, continued your chase.
'We don't know why you did that, none of you was prepared to tell us.
'You were going as fast as you possibly could, with no regard for other road-users and it was inevitable someone would get hit.'
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Kieran Flint, left, and Samuel Franklin, right, outside court. Flint was being chased by Taseem and Franklin in turn was chasing Taseem
The court heard the events began when Taseem and Hussain began chasing Flint on the outskirts of Banbury.
Flint contacted his friend Franklin for help and together they forced the BMW to come to a stop in the middle of the road.
Franklin got out armed with a metal bar and approached the BMW, but Taseem drove into the back of Flint's car and forced his way past before speeding off.
Franklin then gave chase and rammed the BMW causing Taseem to speed the wrong way along the dual carriageway.
Sagar Taseem had smoked cannabis when he got behind the wheel of the BMW
Prosecutor Simon Davis said there was nothing Mrs Wilson could do to avoid the head-on smash as the BMW hurtled towards her Fiesta in the wrong direction.
Franklin drove to the scene of the crash and, ignoring the tragedy which was unfolding, got out of his car and chased after Taseem and Hussain as they fled.
He then returned to his car and drove to the petrol station when he met up with Flint and they went searching for the other two men, leading to a further brief confrontation.
In a statement read in court, Mrs Wilson said: 'The memory of that night and my mother being in severe pain will remain with me for the rest of my days.'
The judge added: 'It is mere good fortune that only one person was killed. It could have been much, much worse, and it is no thanks to any of you that it was not.
'I take the view that the remorse you have expressed is remorse for the situation you find yourselves in.
'This was a prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of very bad driving, and I have no doubt that you Mr Taseem were under the influence of cannabis when you were driving in this way.
'In cases such as this when young men use their cars as weapons in fights between each-other with a total disregard for innocent road-users who are put at risk, and where someone is killed, those cases will attract very lengthy sentences indeed.'
