A Keighley man who repeatedly attempted to evade speeding penalties by falsely claiming his number plates had been stolen has been jailed after police uncovered his deception.
Ayaan Rafiq, 31, of Castle Road, was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Bradford Crown Court on Monday, 23 March, after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice and making false reports to police. He has also been banned from driving for 22 months.
The court heard how Rafiq was first caught speeding in Shipley in May 2023. When a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) was issued, he contacted police claiming that the number plates on his BMW had been stolen, leading to the case being dropped.
Just two months later, Rafiq used the same excuse again after being caught speeding on the M1 — prompting further investigation by officers.
However, detailed enquiries, including mobile phone analysis, placed Rafiq inside the vehicle at the exact times and locations of both offences, exposing his claims as false.
Police said the case demonstrated a deliberate and repeated attempt to mislead authorities in order to avoid prosecution.
It also emerged that this was not Rafiq’s first offence of this nature. In 2024, he had already received a suspended sentence for similar attempts to evade speeding penalties.
Following the sentencing, Rachel Wainwright, of West Yorkshire Police’s Prosecutions and Casualty Prevention Unit, said the case should serve as a warning to other motorists.
“Speeding is one of the ‘fatal five’ factors linked to deaths and serious injuries on our roads,” she said. “Speed limits are there to protect everyone.
“While we aim to educate drivers wherever possible, this case shows a clear disregard for the law. Rafiq repeatedly chose to ignore speed limits and then attempted to lie his way out of the consequences.”
She added: “Perverting the course of justice is a serious offence, and this outcome reflects that. We hope it sends a strong message that those who try to evade detection will be brought before the courts.”
West Yorkshire Police said the case forms part of its wider Vision Zero strategy, aimed at eliminating preventable deaths and serious injuries on the region’s roads.
