A driver convicted of causing death by dangerous driving who fled to Pakistan after fatally striking a jogger has claimed to be terminally ill and expressed sorrow for the victim's family. Rashid Ali, 32, was convicted in his absence at the Old Bailey after failing to attend his trial. He was sentenced in September 2024 to five years in prison and a five-and-a-half-year driving ban, but he did not appear in court for sentencing.
Ali was traveling at twice the 20 mph speed limit in a Range Rover Sport when he struck marketing executive Jack Ryan, 29, near London's Battersea Bridge on January 13, 2021. Mr. Ryan suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene. The court heard that the road was wet and Ali was traveling between 39 mph and 41 mph in a 20 mph zone. CCTV footage showed Mr. Ryan was struck and thrown into the air. While Ali claimed Mr. Ryan had run in front of his car, prosecutors argued that amber traffic lights indicated he had sufficient time to stop safely.
Following the collision, Ali, who had been in the UK on a student visa, returned to Pakistan. He has since shared social media footage showing him enjoying life abroad, including his wedding, in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The victim's partner, Liz Austin, has spoken out about her ongoing trauma and is campaigning for changes to the Bail Act to ensure mandatory passport surrender for individuals facing serious criminal charges. She noted that there is no formal extradition treaty between the UK and Pakistan, allowing Ali to avoid serving his sentence.
In a March broadcast by Channel 4's Dispatches program, Ali was interviewed while in Saudi Arabia performing the Islamic pilgrimage Umrah. He claimed to be terminally ill with tuberculosis and other unspecified health issues, but stated he intended to return to the UK in 2027. When asked why he had not yet returned, Ali said, "Yeah, I was terminally ill and still I am. Tuberculosis and some other health issues, but I will not disclose to anybody that I don't know yet." He added, "I definitely will travel to London, mate, and I've told them I'm coming back in 2027." Regarding Mr. Ryan's family, Ali stated, "I feel sorry for them and I definitely will face justice, mate, yeah."
Mr. Ryan's family has expressed distress over Ali's apparent evasion of justice. His sister, Ciara Ryan, told Dispatches that the family could have shown forgiveness if Ali had taken accountability, but there was none. She expressed a desire for the government to support their efforts in bringing him back to face consequences. The family has also set up a 'Justice for Jack' petition, aiming to gather 10,000 signatures to prompt a government response regarding passport surrender laws for those accused of serious crimes.
In a statement following Ali's sentencing, the Ryan family criticized the "pitiful sentence" as an insult, noting that Ali's absconding to Pakistan and failure to appear for his sentencing compounded their grief and inflicted further pain. They described living with constant anxiety after experiencing the worst. Mr. Ryan's parents, Noel and Teresa Ryan, his sister Ciara Ryan, and partner Liz Austin stated they had been left "shattered" by their loss. They remembered Jack Ryan as a kind-spirited man with a great love for life, his friends, partner, family, and Aston Villa football club.
During the trial, Ali's barrister had relayed an email from the defendant expressing "great stress" and "anxiety," and stating, "I feel very ashamed of myself and have assassinated my own character." Judge Judy Khan, in sentencing Ali, stated she had received a letter indicating his intent to return to serve his sentence, but added, "I am unable to accept that assurance."