A blind Iraqi who lost both eyes in a bomb blast has been convicted of dangerous driving after being caught at the wheel in the Black Country. Magistrates heard that Omed Aziz pulled on to waste ground after being told that police were tailing his Peugeot 405. His passenger told officers: “He’s blind.”
Mr Peter Love, prosecuting, asked Pc Glyn Austin if he had noticed anything about Aziz when he was asked to remove his dark glasses.
Pc Austin replied: “I did - he didn’t have any eyes, your worships.”
Aziz, of Birmingham Street, Wednesbury, reached speeds of up to 35mph on a half-mile route through Oldbury in April.
The court heard that Aziz, who also suffers from leg tremors and is partially deaf, was arrested shortly after 11pm on St George’s Day after police tailed his car along Oldbury Ringway and into West Bromwich Street.
Pc Austin said: “I attempted to speak to the driver, who appeared to be fumbling around with the controls. At that point, the passenger leaned across and stated ‘He’s blind’.
“We asked him to step out of the vehicle, which he did eventually, and then Pc (Stuart) Edge questioned him as to his eyesight, at which point he then removed his glasses.”
The court heard that Aziz had been taking instructions on how to steer and when to brake from a passenger.
The 31-year-old told officers he had lost his eyes as a result of a bomb explosion in Iraq but said he had had driving experience prior to being blinded in his homeland.
He said he had been testing his abilities behind the wheel and also told officers he suffered from depression.
Aziz had already admitted charges of driving without insurance and an MOT and not in accordance with a licence. Warley Magistrates Court yesterday found him guilty of dangerous driving.
Mr Timothy Gascoyne, defending, said: “The question is not whether his driving was dangerous, but whether being blind makes it dangerous.”
Aziz will be sentenced on Monday.
By Emma Sloper
* A man accused of giving instructions to Aziz has had his case adjourned. Dlear Ahmed failed to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court because of confusion over his bail status.
The 21-year-old, formerly of Andrew Gardens, Handsworth, Birmingham, is charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
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