Driver who killed 12-year-old Azaan Khan in Birmingham jailed as dark history on roads revealed

A speeding driver who mowed down and killed a 12-year-old boy has been jailed for more than eight years. Azaan Khan was crossing the Coventry Road in Yardley on his bicycle when he was fatally struck by a red BMW.

Behind the wheel was Shazad Alam who had been weaving in and out of traffic and using the bus lane to undertake other drivers who heard the 'aggressive roaring' of his engine as he sped past. It is estimated the 34-year-old Jaguar Land Rover was going as fast as 62mph at the point of impact.

The speed limit was 40mph with numerous repeater signs on the route warning of the threshold. Today, Birmingham Crown Court was told he had twice been banned from driving in the past, in 2019 and 2022, under the 'totting up' process which included speeding at 75mph on another 40mph road.

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Alam, of Lowesmoor Road, Sheldon, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to eight years and nine months, of which he will serve two thirds in custody. He was further disqualified from driving for seven years from the point at which he is released.

Judge Kristina Montgomery KC concluded Alam was 'irritated' by the slow-moving traffic and showed disregard for the risk to others. The collision took place around 6.15pm on June 8 last year. Emergency services tried to save Azaan but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His mother Zoe Homer told the court her son was her 'best friend' and 'better half' as she described him as 'beautiful, clever and incredibly funny'. She said: "I didn't just lose Azaan I lost the future I thought we had together. I lost all of myself."

She stated she ran to the scene even though she was 35 weeks pregnant at the time, adding she was left 'completely and utterly broken' at Azaan's death. His father Jakir Khan also recalled being at the site and holding his son's body.

He said: "He was always the smartest person in the room, had a great sense of humour and charm like no other. His smile and charisma filled every room he was in."

Mr Khan added he had been left with 'unbearable emptiness and darkness' as he told Alam he would never forgive him for making him feel like he had failed to protect his son.

Prosecutor Sarah Slater told the court that Azaan and two of his friends had been to Arif and Sons shop on Coventry Road to buy sweets, before they used a pedestrian crossing on Coventry Road. The two friends, who were on foot, got to the other side but Azaan, who followed behind on his bike, was struck by Alam's red BWM as he was about half way across the road.

One witness heard the 'aggressive revving and accelerating' of the defendant's engine while another motorist recalled Alam undertaking him and then cutting across him just before the collision. A further driver stated Alam used the bus lane to avoid traffic and then 'floored it'.

Azaan was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem concluded he died of multiple injuries but primarily those to his head and chest.

A collision investigation concluded Alam was doing between 49.7mph to 54mph on Coventry Road before accelerating to between 53.8mph and 62.7mph at the point of impact. Judge Montgomery said: "Your two previous disqualifications should have been a significant warning to you that the rules of the road must be respected to ensure safety, not just to the driver but to those who maybe in his path."

She added he made a 'deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road' and 'demonstrated a disregard for the risk of danger to others'. The judge accepted he was remorseful for the consequences of the accident but added Alam had minimised his own responsibility by failing to recognise he was driving dangerously, prior to eventually pleading guilty.

In a letter of his own Alam said: "No amount of words can express how sorry I am for the loss I caused to Azaan's family. I want to apologise to them profusely. The tragic mistake I made on the 8th of June last year will live with me forever and Azaan will remain in the my prayers and the prayers of my family. "

Harry Lally, defending, stated Alam initially 'couldn't bear' to take responsibility for taking the life of a child. He told the court he had worked for Jaguar Land Rover since 2012, and in tragic irony had welcomed the birth of his own son three days before the accident.

Mr Lally added: "It was a moment of madness. It was stupidity. He shouldn't have driven in that manner. He knows he will never be forgiven for what he did. He will forever pray for forgiveness but it may never come."