R v Sunil Shah

Facts

The appellant, Sunil Shah, was sentenced in the Crown Court at Bradford before His Honour Judge Nadim to 7 years and 6 months' custody for causing grievous bodily harm with intent contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, together with a 6-year driving disqualification and the statutory surcharge. On 15 July 2025 on Leeds Road in Bradford he deliberately drove his car at Dean Higgins, crushing him between two vehicles. The victim, his partner's former brother-in-law, was known to him through a loose family connection, and there was animosity between them arising from the break-up of the relationship that connected them. CCTV showed the victim's car chasing, then overtaking and cutting in front of the appellant's car, forcing it to stop; as the victim stood at the boot of his own car, the appellant straightened up and accelerated hard at him. The victim suffered multiple fractures to his legs, permanent injury and lasting psychological harm. The appellant fled the scene and tried to leave the country. Having first told police the car had gone forward by accident, he pleaded guilty on the first day of trial with 10 per cent credit. He appealed against sentence with the leave of the Single Judge.