Drug addict led police on high-speed chase towards Leeds city centre in stolen VW Polo

Jahan Khalighi, 38, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to offences of dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving whilst disqualified and using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Prosecutor Verity Barnes told the court how at approximately 1pm on November 25 2025, a Mr Serbat had left his VW Polo warming up outside his address as he went inside to retrieve his phone, and despite being inside for “no longer than a minute” returned to find his vehicle had been taken.

Later that day, at around 8pm, police spotted Khalighi driving the stolen vehicle on Lupton Avenue in Harehills, following him onto Ivy Street and East Park Parade. Failing to stop for the blue lights, he took up an “aggressive driving style,” reaching speeds of 60mph in a 30mph zone, and was “swerving in erratic, uncontrolled ways” as he attempted to evade pursuing police.

The court heard how the defendant, who has 25 convictions for 83 offences and was on licence at the time, showed “no obvious signs of care and regard for anyone else” as he blew through a red light at 50mph on Pontefract Lane.

A trained traffic officer soon took over the pursuit, and followed as the defendant drove onto the duel carriageway and hit speeds of 60-75mph in a 40mph zone. Khalighi then cut across the front of the police vehicle onto South Accommodation Road as the officer tried to direct the car to a stinger sight which had been set up.

Growing increasingly concerned for the “high risk to the public,” officers used quartering tactics to direct the vehicle away from Leeds city centre, and after once more attempting to cut across, Khalighi collided with the front of the pursuing police car and spun 180 degrees, ending the pursuit. Both vehicles were damaged in the collision and all occupants of the VW Polo were arrested.

In mitigation, defence counsel told the court that Khalighi had been suffering from an addiction to heroin and cocaine, and admitted his actions were an act of “stupidity” and showed a “disregard for others.” He has been “making progress” on tackling his addiction while in custody and intends to seek further help from Forward Leeds, upon his release.

He has rebuilt a relationship with his mother and his brother is willing to offer him housing and work, upon his release from prison. Khalighi denies taking the vehicle, but was merely asked to move it later, the court was told.

Describing the incident as a “dreadful piece of dangerous driving,” while reaching “grossly excessive speeds,” Judge Simon Batiste told the defendant he had no choice but to impose jail time as his “truly dreadful record” made the chances of him sticking to the terms of a non-custodial sentence “remote in the extreme.”

Khalighi was sentenced to a total of 16 months in jail, for which he will serve up to half. Judge Batiste further disqualified him from driving for three years and 8 months, and ordered that he be required to take an extended re-test to regain licence back.