A father-of-five has been sentenced to four years and eleven months in prison for helping a suspected drunken hit-and-run driver flee the country following a deadly collision in Birmingham.
Philip Dale, aged 45, was killed when he was struck by a speeding Volkswagen Golf in Small Heath on November 1, 2022. Police believe that the vehicle was driven by Shazad Hussain, who fled the scene after the crash.
Surveillance footage captured Hussain appearing intoxicated as he staggered away from the crash site and discarded a bottle of Malibu. Despite obvious signs of vehicle damage, he abandoned the car nearby and left the country soon after.
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Kamran Khaliq, the registered owner of the car and described by authorities as “remorseless,” arranged and financed Hussain’s escape. Within hours of the incident, the two men exchanged nearly 80 phone calls. Khaliq paid £590 for flights from Birmingham to Dubai and then Islamabad, effectively helping Hussain evade justice.
Hussain flew out on November 3, 2022, and remains at large years later. Khaliq subsequently lied to police about the whereabouts of his vehicle, even claiming it was stolen by Hussain. Despite multiple interviews, Khaliq maintained a false narrative, attempting to protect Hussain.
Khaliq pleaded guilty to assisting an offender but later tried to withdraw his plea. The court rejected this attempt. He has two prior convictions related to perverting the course of justice.
During sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, the judge emphasized the severity of Khaliq’s actions, stating they enabled Hussain to avoid facing justice, likely permanently. Judge George Lubega dismissed claims of Khaliq’s remorse and denied a suspended sentence, highlighting the profound impact of the victim’s death.
Philip Dale’s brother, Dominic, described him as a “vibrant” individual whose loss continues to deeply affect his family. “His life mattered. This was not just an accident; it was a profound event with lasting consequences,” Dominic said.
Khaliq, who also cares for his mother and has five children plus a grandchild, expressed regret through his legal counsel. However, the court concluded that the gravity of his complicity outweighed these factors.