Ilford driver who crashed into back of police car sentenced

Habib ur Rehman, 38, of Ilford Hill, was driving a Honda CR-V on the southbound M11 near Wendens Ambo, Essex, at around 11.20pm on February 18. He fell asleep whilst driving and struck a police car, narrowly avoiding the officers who were out of the vehicle dealing with another incident. One of the officers suffered minor injuries as he jumped out of the way, as did Rehman who was taken to hospital.

On Thursday, March 20, Rehman was given an 18 week sentence, suspended for 12 months, having pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for a year, ordered to do an extended re-test, pay costs of GBP85 and a victim surcharge of GBP154. The damaged police car (Image: Cambs Police) PC Edd Davidson Smith, one of the officers at the collision, said: "This case highlights the dangers of driving tired and falling asleep at the wheel.

"If anyone feels tired while driving, they should pull over somewhere safely and have a rest.

"Rehman seriously endangered me and my colleagues with his dangerous driving that night and it was more luck than judgement that none of us were more seriously injured."