A dangerous driver has escaped jail after leading police on a 150mph chase through North Yorkshire.
Muhammad Khaliq Rasool, 22, led police on a long pursuit while at the wheel of a Skoda Superb.
It began at 1.22am on Friday 19 December when Rasool was spotted by Sergeant Keenen travelling north on the A19 at Knayton on the outskirts of Thirsk.
Sgt Keenen attempted to pull the vehicle over at Exelby Service Station near Ingleby Arncliffe.
However, the driver failed to stop and continued to head north, passing road workers at 120mph and undertaking other traffic at excessive speeds in wet road conditions.
The vehicle crossed the Cleveland Police border near Crathorne at 140mph.
Rasool then left the A19 at the Parkway roundabout in Middlesbrough, going through red traffic lights, and then headed east on A174.
The Skoda was doing 150mph on the 70mph dual-carriage way road as it reached the Greystones roundabout near Eston.
Rasool then left the A174 at the A171 junction for Ormesby and Cargo Fleet at 110mph, travelling across a give-way without slowing.
He was now on Church Street, a 30mph residential street, but the vehicle came to a dead end on Meadow Close and was blocked in by Sgt Keenen’s patrol car.
Rasool attempted to make out that he hadn’t been driving the car by quickly moving to the front passenger seat, with the front seat passenger jumping into the rear seat.
Both men were arrested at 1.40am.
However, CCTV footage recovered from the scene proved that it was Rasool who had been driving the Skoda and the other man was released without charge.
In police custody, Rasool was found to be in possession of a Class C drug, 10 tablets of oxymetholone in a blister pack, that had not been prescribed to him.
Driving ban
Rasool, 22, from Oxbridge Lane, Stockton-on-Tees, pleaded guilty to failing to stop for the police, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and possession of Class C drug oxymetholone when he appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on 27 March 2026.
On Thursday (4 June), he was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 24 months.
Rasool will also have to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity, carry out 100 days of unpaid work, and pay a total of £272 in court costs, plus the forfeiture and destruction of the oxymetholone.
Sgt Keenen said: “The pursuit footage taken from the police car clearly demonstrates Rasool’s dangerous driving and complete disregard for the safety of himself, his passenger, other road users, and the pursuing police officers.
“He even tried to claim that he had not been behind the wheel by moving into the passenger seat seconds before he was arrested. Thanks to the nearby CCTV footage, it proved beyond any doubt that he was the driver.
“Quite rightly, Rasool has been banned from the roads for a considerable length of time.
“This case shows the determination of North Yorkshire Police to relentlessly pursue dangerous criminals who use our road networks. We operate beyond our borders and suspects can expect to be caught.”
