undercova_luva
January 12th, 2008, 07:55 AM
Five years for soldier on racist rampage
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/YPOS//TH1_1312200731mawdsley.jpg
Five years Jail: Ben Mawdsley
A teenage solder who went on a 40-minute racist rampage through the streets of Halifax has been jailed for five years.
Royal engineer Ben Mawdsley, 19, sped through the town centre in his Range Rover on a June afternoon, shouting racial abuse, mounting pavements, hitting pedestrians and leaving shoppers running for cover.
Earlier that day he had been banned for driving at 103mph on the M62. Leeds Crown Court heard he feared he would lose his job in the army as a result.
Mawdsley, of Luddenden Foot near Halifax, targeted five Asian men, the court heard. Faisal Rashid, who was 18 at the time, was knocked off his bike by Mawdsley's car. He was left with serious head injuries and blind in one eye. Two other men, Sajid Mahmood and Wahid Khan were hit by the car.
Prosecutor Andrew Dallas said: "Mawdsley arrived home angry saying to his mother, 'My f***ing career's over. I got a £290 fine and six penalty points'.
"He also claimed he had been told by his sergeant that he would be denied promotion for five years, but this is something the Sergeant disputes saying.
"He was clearly very angry and so got into his car and drove off into town with a crossbow and a Stanley knife - which fortunately he disposed of, but not before cutting at his own arms whilst driving."
At a previous hearing Mawdsley had admitted dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Rashid, who was knocked off his bike while he rode on an enclosed footpath.
Mawdsley admitted a further charge of assault causing actual bodily harm to Mohammed Ali, who was knock
ed into the air by Mawdsley's car.
His barrister James Ward said a number of character witnesses of all races had come forward to dispute that Mawdsley was a racist.
Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC said: "You drove around Halifax for 30-40 minutes and injured five people, one seriously. He was clearly on a footpath when you drove at him and because of that he will now be permanently blind in one eye.
"Furthermore, you deliberately rammed into other cars, causing significant damage. You knew what you were doing, all of them were Asian and you were heard shouting racial abuse at them.
"It was deliberate, aggressive and dangerous driving, prolonged at times. You used your vehicle as a weapon.
"You are plainly a very good soldier and your career was lost to you by no one's fault but your own."
http://editorial.jpress.co.uk/web/Upload/YPOS//TH1_1312200731mawdsley.jpg
Five years Jail: Ben Mawdsley
A teenage solder who went on a 40-minute racist rampage through the streets of Halifax has been jailed for five years.
Royal engineer Ben Mawdsley, 19, sped through the town centre in his Range Rover on a June afternoon, shouting racial abuse, mounting pavements, hitting pedestrians and leaving shoppers running for cover.
Earlier that day he had been banned for driving at 103mph on the M62. Leeds Crown Court heard he feared he would lose his job in the army as a result.
Mawdsley, of Luddenden Foot near Halifax, targeted five Asian men, the court heard. Faisal Rashid, who was 18 at the time, was knocked off his bike by Mawdsley's car. He was left with serious head injuries and blind in one eye. Two other men, Sajid Mahmood and Wahid Khan were hit by the car.
Prosecutor Andrew Dallas said: "Mawdsley arrived home angry saying to his mother, 'My f***ing career's over. I got a £290 fine and six penalty points'.
"He also claimed he had been told by his sergeant that he would be denied promotion for five years, but this is something the Sergeant disputes saying.
"He was clearly very angry and so got into his car and drove off into town with a crossbow and a Stanley knife - which fortunately he disposed of, but not before cutting at his own arms whilst driving."
At a previous hearing Mawdsley had admitted dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Rashid, who was knocked off his bike while he rode on an enclosed footpath.
Mawdsley admitted a further charge of assault causing actual bodily harm to Mohammed Ali, who was knock
ed into the air by Mawdsley's car.
His barrister James Ward said a number of character witnesses of all races had come forward to dispute that Mawdsley was a racist.
Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC said: "You drove around Halifax for 30-40 minutes and injured five people, one seriously. He was clearly on a footpath when you drove at him and because of that he will now be permanently blind in one eye.
"Furthermore, you deliberately rammed into other cars, causing significant damage. You knew what you were doing, all of them were Asian and you were heard shouting racial abuse at them.
"It was deliberate, aggressive and dangerous driving, prolonged at times. You used your vehicle as a weapon.
"You are plainly a very good soldier and your career was lost to you by no one's fault but your own."