RAHMAN: GARAGE OWNER CLEARED OF RAMMING CUSTOMER

A garage owner accused of ramming a disgruntled customer with his car has been cleared by a jury after he claimed the incident never took place.

Waheed Rahman, 27, was accused of driving into Ghulam Mustafa’s car in a dispute over an unpaid bill, before reversing and driving at the car again, trapping Mr Mustafa as he was getting out.

But a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court unanimously found him not guilty after he claimed Mustafa had invented the allegations.

The dispute arose after bus driver Mr Mustafa took his car to Mr Rahman’s garage, JJ Autos on Carpenter’s Road, Stratford, east London, for a new engine to be fitted.

The prosecution alleged that Mr Mustafa was being charged for work that had not been done, and would not pay without receiving a receipt.

Police were initially called by Mr Mustafa to deal with the argument, but advised him that it was a civil matter and there was nothing they could do.

Mr Mustafa said he drove his car at him trapping him between the two vehicles.

But the court heard Mr Mustafa was left with no visible injuries and the jury was shown no evidence of damage to his car.
 
The defendant insisted: ‘I did not drive the car at him at all’ and his account was accepted by the jury.

Rahman, of (263) Carpenter’s Road, Stratford, was cleared of dangerous driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm on May 26 last year.
 
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