Stockwell maniac drove car at clubbers outside venue

A reckless reveller barred from a bar has been sentenced to 16 years in jail after driving into a group of pedestrians outside, badly injuring five of them.

Mustafa Esmail, 21, of no fixed abode, was blocked from going into the pub on Stockwell Road, Lambeth at 3am on December 2 2017.

A row erupted and a man was beaten up and then threatened by Esmail, who ran off.

But minutes later, he returned in a hired white VW Golf, driving onto the pavement outside the bar and hitting a group of pedestrians. Five men were injured with multiple broken bones including leg fractures, a broken shin and a spleen injury. Some needed surgery, though none suffered life changing injuries.

Esmail then fled on foot, along with his passengers – but detectives found his blood inside.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 10 July.

He was also sentenced to nine months for an unrelated Actual Bodily Harm offence, to be served concurrently.

Officers from Lambeth CID found that the car used in the attack had been hired the previous day.

A phone in the car linked it to Esmail, as did blood found on the airbag and fingerprints on the windows.

Police established that a call was made to a taxi firm minutes after the incident, with the driver confirming he picked up Esmail and two other men.

Esmail was held on Brompton Close, Hounslow in June last year following an extensive manhunt.

He gave false details but fingerprints revealed his true identity and he was charged in connection with the Stockwell Road offence.

Detective Constable Tom Baxter, from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: “Esmail’s deliberate actions left a number five victims with significant injuries and it is only down to sheer good fortune and the work of the emergency services that the consequences were not more grave.

“Esmail attempted to evade police but will now have a considerable period of time to reflect on his behaviour that night.

“We hope this sentence brings those involved some closure and demonstrates our commitment to getting individuals intent on causing harm off our streets.

“This conviction was achieved thanks to a diligent and thorough investigation by officers and is a good example of the excellent work undertaken by MPS detectives to investigate crime and bring those responsible to justice.”