Uber driver who jumped red light and hit pedestrian loses livelihood after dangerous driving conviction
- Perry Richardson
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
An Uber driver who drove through a red light and hit a pedestrian in Newcastle city centre has been told he is unlikely to regain his private hire licence after being convicted of dangerous driving.
Shak Rahman, 48, was driving a passenger who was running late for an appointment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary when the collision happened on 17 February, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
The victim had finished work and was walking along Percy Street to catch a bus home from outside Newcastle University library. He was crossing the road at its junction with St Thomas’ Street and was more than halfway across when Rahman’s vehicle struck him.
The impact threw the pedestrian into the air and onto the car’s windscreen before he landed heavily on the road. Prosecutors described it as “quite remarkable” that he had not suffered more serious injuries.
According to the Chronicle Live, the victim said his last memory before the collision was crossing the road. His next recollection was waking in hospital after being taken there by ambulance. In a victim impact statement, he said the incident had a “massive impact on me mentally, physically and financially”.
He said his children and grandchildren had been left constantly worrying about him, while he continued to experience chest pain and had been forced to take time away from work.
Rahman gave his details to the ambulance crew but did not remain at the scene. Police later attended his home and found his car had sustained damage in the collision.
Checks on the vehicle identified a tyre that was more than 10 years old, rusted brakes and a loose steering wheel cover. The court heard that those defects did not contribute to the collision.
Rahman, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and received a 12-month driving ban. He will also be required to pass an extended driving test before regaining his driving licence.
Recorder Tony Hawks told Rahman: “You took an enormous risk by ignoring a red light and you ran over a pedestrian, who had to go to hospital. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured but he could have been killed or seriously injured, in which case you would undoubtedly go to prison immediately.”
The judge said an immediate custodial sentence would not be imposed, noting the significant consequences Rahman had already faced as a professional driver.
He added: “You have lost your livelihood as a taxi driver and from what I know of the city council you are unlikely to get your licence back with a conviction for dangerous driving.”
Spencer Downey, defending, told the court that Rahman believed his passenger was travelling to an appointment at the RVI and had complained about running late.
Downey said: “He believes his passenger was going to an appointment at the RVI and they were complaining they were running late, adding to the pressure on him.”
