Yamin Mahmad Iqbal Indawala, 27, sent his car spinning out of control after picking up two friends from Salford Quays – he was ‘suffering from PTSD’
A reckless motorist who was “inhaling gas from a balloon” at the wheel caused a horrific accident that severely injured another man.
Yamin Mahmad Iqbal Indawala slammed his Volkswagen Golf into several stationary vehicles, including an Audi, after dropping off two acquaintances. Manchester Crown Court learned that the 27-year-old had fetched two friends from Salford Quays earlier that day.
During the ride, the passengers described how Indawala took sharp turns and tore down the streets at high speeds while blaring music. Prosecutor Robert Smith disclosed in court: “The defendant was told that his two passengers wanted to get an Uber [back home] because they felt unsafe in the vehicle, but the defendant said he would return them to Salford Quays,” further noting, “The defendant was inhaling gas from a balloon while driving.”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
It was established that the alarming incident unfolded on the evening of April 24, 2023. At about 11.40pm, as a man was retrieving items from his Audi parked on Worsley Road, Indawala’s approach resulted in chaos when he lost control of his vehicle and collided with the parked cars and the Audi, inflicting serious injuries upon the victim.
“The victim witnessed his left foot grotesquely twisted,” the court heard. He sustained multiple serious injuries including fractures. After enduring more than a month in hospital post-collision, the victim was finally discharged.
Mr Smith also informed the court that at the scene, Indawala admitted to paramedics that he had been speeding at 50mph at the time of the accident. Emptied nitrous oxide canisters were discovered in the vicinity.
During the mitigation, Nigel Beeson stated: “The injuries are significant and serious. My client has fully accepted, from the word go, that the only person at fault for this incident was him.”
The defence mentioned that the defendant was battling PTSD. Judge Rachel Galloway delivered a two-year sentence to Indawala, which is set to hang over him for two years, after his early guilty plea to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
“It was a deliberate decision by him to ignore the rules of the road,” she declared. “The speed was significantly above the speed limit, and his inhalation of the balloon must have been a distraction to him.
“The incident had a significant impact on [the victim’s] life as a whole. He has not been able to pay his bills or rent. He has lost two holidays.
“He has depleted savings, has lost about £10,000, and has had to fund therapy. All of these are clearly very significant.”
Indawala, residing on Auburn Street, Bolton, received orders to complete 250 hours of unpaid work; he is also mandated to adhere to a nine-month electronically-monitored curfew, restricting his movements from 7am to 7pm.
Moreover, Indawala faces a driving ban for two-and-a-half years and must settle legal costs amounting to £130 as well as a victim surcharge.
