Uninsured Learner Jailed Over Fatal Head-On Collision

A learner driver, driving without insurance, has been jailed after causing a fatal crash that claimed the life of a 65-year-old woman and left her husband with life-changing injuries. Khizer Ali, 24, was caught on dashcam driving at 59mph in a 40mph zone moments before the collision on the A441 in Redditch, Worcestershire, on April 23 last year.

Ali crashed his mother’s Volkswagen Golf head-on into the Vauxhall Meriva driven by Valerie Ayres and her husband David, 70, as the couple were on their way to go shopping. Mrs Ayres died at the scene, while Mr Ayres sustained serious injuries.

Following the crash, Ali was filmed fleeing on foot. He was arrested shortly afterward at his home in Redditch. At Worcester Crown Court, Ali admitted to multiple offences, including causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison and disqualified from driving for 12-and-a-half years.

The court heard that Ali only held a provisional licence and had initially been driving his sister’s car. He later switched to their mother’s VW Golf — a Motability vehicle insured solely for use by his mother and sister. His sister, 20-year-old Sanaa Shahzad, had allowed him to use the car while she attended a beauty appointment.

The sister, Shahzad, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or permitting the use of a vehicle without valid insurance or a licence. She will be sentenced next month.

Detective Constable Rose Hughes of West Mercia Police said Ali had "shown a total disregard for the safety of the public."