THE moment a speeding BMW mounted the pavement and ploughed into the back of a Bradford Councillor’s elderly father has been played in court.

Mohammed Azam, 71, a much-loved and respected “pillar of the community,” was walking on Horton Park Avenue at around 9.15pm on September 21 last year when he was struck by the car and hurled over a wall into bushes.

The BMW 120 mounted the kerb just after Mr Azam had crossed Cecil Avenue. He had gone a short distance along the pavement when he was hit, causing “catastrophic” injuries that have left him paralysed.

Ashfaq Valli, 25, of Lemon Street, Wibsey, Bradford, has pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He is awaiting sentence at Bradford Crown Court this afternoon after the case was adjourned until 2pm.

So far, the court has heard from prosecution barrister, Abdul Shakoor, who has outlined the facts of the case and played the CCTV footage of the moment the BMW struck Mr Azam.

Mr Azam’s son, Bradford City Ward Councillor Nazam Azam, is in court for the hearing.

Mr Shakoor said that Mr Azam was fit, healthy and active for his age, walking up to five miles daily.

He set off on one of his usual walks at 7.30pm the night he was struck by the BMW.

The court heard that there is a 30mph speed limit on Horton Park Avenue, a single carriageway residential street.

Valli’s BMW, with two passengers on board, was seen by the police driving on the wrong side of the road. A marked police vehicle had to stop to avoid it.

The police officer flashed her lights at Valli but he continued on at speed, Mr Shakoor said.

The officer turned round to follow the BMW and alert road traffic officers.

Shortly afterwards, Valli came up at speed behind Mr Azam, mounted the pavement and hit him.

Mr Azam was lifted on to the bonnet, striking the windscreen and launched into the air, the court was told.

He struck a wall and landed in bushes on the other side of it.

Valli stopped at the scene and the police quickly arrived.

Mr Shakoor said the officers did not at first realise that anyone had been struck. Mr Azam’s shoe was at the scene but there was no sign of him.

It was five minutes before an officer found him and an ambulance was immediately called.

Valli said he was “going too fast and lost control.”

“It was an honest mistake. I’m truly sorry,” he told the police.

Mr Azam’s injuries included a fractured spine, a bleed on the brain and multiple rib fractures. He had a mild heart attack brought on by the trauma and he was put into an induced coma in Leeds General Infirmary.

He had been left paralysed from the waist down, Mr Shakoor said.

The case continues.