Dangerous driver and repeat bilking offender avoids prison

Joseph Nabil fought back tears over the video link from custody when told he would receive a suspended sentence by the Bournemouth Crown Court judge.

Nabil, 45 and of Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, previously pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, using a motor vehicle without insurance, driving without a licence, four counts of making off without payment, four counts of theft, going equipped for theft and attempted theft.

The defendant also asked the sentencing judge, Recorder Daniel Sawyer, to take into account 37 further offences of making off without payment.

The judge said he initially believed he would send the defendant to prison but he was persuaded to implement a suspended sentence.

In relation to the dangerous driving incident, prosecutor Rob Griffiths played dashcam footage from a police car pursuing the defendant, who was at the wheel of a white Renault Megane in the Broadstone area of Poole on September 17.

Officers had received a report the vehicle had made off from a petrol station without payment.

The video footage showed Nabil overtaking cars at speed, driving at 88mph in a 40mph zone before crashing into the police car when it pulled alongside him.

Police dashcam footage

The dashcam recording then appears to show the officer drive into the back of the defendant's vehicle. The court heard the officer's statement described this as a "reverse shunt". The judge said he was not sentencing Nabil for a reverse shunt.

The defendant committed shoplifting offences at Boots in Bournemouth town centre on September 5, Asda at Castlepoint on January 22 and twice at Waitrose in Winton on January 30.

He went equipped for theft and attempted to steal a bicycle at The Triangle, Bournemouth, on April 11.

The four making off without payment matters which he formally pleaded to were committed in Barrack Road, Christchurch on August 21 and August 22, Sandbanks Road, Poole, on August 28 and Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen on September 16. They totalled £707.27 of fuel.

The court heard the stealing petrol offences often involved the defendant filling up fuel in "drums".

Nabil read a letter he had written to the judge, which expressed his remorse for what he had done, including being "mortified" by the dangerous driving.

In sentencing the defendant to 15 months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, Recorder Sawyer said: "You are going well over 80 in a 40 limit – you could have killed somebody.

"That kind of driving inevitably leads to custodial sentences. Almost inevitably it leads to immediate custodial sentences."

The suspended sentence included a drug rehabilitation requirement and up to 20 rehabilitation activity days.

The judge added: "I have seen the glowing pre-sentence report.

"I have seen in your history you have had period of some years where you have stayed out of trouble."

The judge noted the 14 certificates of rehabilitation courses the defendant had been received and his enhanced status at the prison, adding that he had never seen someone achieve "quite so much" in such a short time in custody.

"It seems to me you are motivated to get yourself out of this offending rut," said Recorder Sawyer.

The defendant, who was also handed a 12-month driving ban, said: "I feel like I only have one chance."

The Daily Echo applied for Nabil's custody image from Dorset Police but the force declined this request.