Leamington bouncer escapes jail after driving at reveller and knocking him down - The Leamington Observer

Leamington bouncer escapes jail after driving at reveller and knocking him down

Leamington Editorial 23rd Jan, 2017 Updated: 23rd Jan, 2017   0

A NIGHT club bouncer who deliberately drove onto the pavement and knocked down a customer who had assaulted him has escaped being jailed.

Ishtiaq Ahmed had pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to dangerous driving and attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent during the incident in Leamington in October 2015.

But following a psychiatric report the 33 year-old of Hazeldene Road, Birmingham was sentenced to 21 months – suspended for two years.

Ahmed, who had previous convictions for dangerous driving and driving while disqualified, was also banned from driving for three years – but got into his Mercedes car after leaving court and drove off in it.




Prosecutor Simon Hunka told the court how Ahmed was working as a doorman at Altoria night club where there had been an incident between him and his victim Steven Dubrava, ‘a man with a substantial criminal record’.

Mr Dubrava indicated he ‘slapped’ Ahmed, who was still bleeding as a result of the injury when he was caught on CCTV on Bedford Street at 3.30am. He was recorded pulling up in his silver-coloured Toyota Corolla next to a group of people including Mr Dubrava.


Ahmed appeared to drive towards Mr Dubrava, who may have been struck a slight blow by the car and began to attack it before shoving a large wheeled bin towards it.

After the confrontation Mr Dubrava jogged away down Bedford Street and Ahmed drove after him the wrong way down the one-way street before mounting the kerb and driving at him.

Mr Dubrava was thrown up onto the bonnet of the car and fell to the ground as Ahmed reversed before driving away.

Graeme Simpson, defending, said a psychiatric report shows Ahmed suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after he was the victim of ‘a violent attack and kidnapping back in 2009.’

He has other mental health problems which the court heard includes ‘a complex paranoid schizophrenic condition’.

Recorder Goodchild observed: “In society he would survive, but in prison a problem is created for him and for the prison service.”

He told Ahmed: “You were working as a bouncer and as part of your duties you had to eject some hooligans who were misbehaving.

“They waited for you, that’s clear, and when you came out of the club there was a confrontation in which you got roughed up by the victim in this case.

“You got in your car, and further altercations occurred, and at one stage the group gathered round your car and did some damage to it.

“This seems to have triggered you into using your car as a weapon, and the result is that the man who punched you ended up on the roof of the car.

“He was bruised, but fortunately no more than that, but you agree your intent was to cause him grievous bodily harm.

“The lowest you could have received for that offence alone must be in the region of two to three years. But two factors mean I can adjust that sentence. One is the element of provocation, and the other is the medical one.”

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