A driver who fled the UK for four years after fatally hitting a cyclist in Birmingham has been jailed for six years.
Kashif Khan was behind the wheel of the car which stuck Andel Goulbourne as he cycled on Washwood Heath Road. The 59-year-old, fondly known as Spring-i, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police arrived within minutes after being alerted by members of the public, but Khan had already slipped away on foot, leaving behind the grey BMW he’d been driving.
The fatal collision was at around 11.30pm on Thursday 30 July, 2020 and the next day Khan bought a one-way flight to Dubai before flying out of the country four hours later.
Police worked tirelessly to establish who had been driving the car, using both fingerprints from a drinks can left in the car and a discarded receipt, to identify Khan.
Forensics experts also confirmed that DNA from a straw left in the drinks can matched Khan’s.
Police can’t be sure where Khan spent the next four years, but when he returned to the UK on 2 July this year he was immediately arrested as he re-entered the country.
Now aged 28, Khan of Parkhouse Drive, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to the charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was yesterday jailed for six years at Birmingham Crown Court. Khan has also been banned from driving for almost 13 years.
In a statement released shortly after the crash, Mr Goulbourne’s family, described the father of three, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, as a “kind and generous individual, a mentor to many young people.
“He always sought to serve those less fortunate, this was reflected in his role as a volunteer charity worker. He was a beacon of light.”
In victim statements read to the court before Khan was sentenced, Mr Goulbourne’s family described how his death had left a ‘huge void in many people’s lives – especially our lives.’
They said: “Our lives changed forever upon hearing the news that our dad had passed away, and losing such a significant loved one left us in total disbelief with feelings of unbearable grief.”
They added: “We will always feel the pain of losing someone so treasured as our dad, however here we are today when despite our anguish we stand to be given some sort of justice and closure.”
Det Sgt Paul Hughes from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We can only hope that this sentence now, brings some comfort to Mr Goulbourne’s family.
“Mr Goulbourne was callously left in the road fatally injured by this driver who was more concerned about trying to evade responsibility for his actions than try to help man he’d hit.
“He went so far as to leave the country within hours of this awful collision and remained away for years, but as soon as he tried to come back we were ready and able to bring him before the courts and see him admit the charge.”