An inmate-turned-actor, who appeared in brutal prison film ‘Starred Up', crashed his Mercedes into a wall when chasing two knifemen while he was disqualified from driving.
Basil Abdul-Latif, 31, was slashed across the arm during a confrontation with two unknown cycle-riding males and lost control while speeding after them.
However, he was still subject to a driving ban, having not passed a court-ordered extended test after two motoring offences.
Abdul-Latif, of Damorie House, Sandmere Road, Clapham received 120 hours community service on and must pay £200 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
He was cast as prisoner Mubarak in the 2013 film - starring Jack O’Connell - after meeting scriptwriter Jonathan Asser in HMP Wandsworth, who he credits with changing his life.
Abdul-Latif pleaded guilty to driving his white two-litre Mercedes Benz E class carelessly in Beechcroft Road, Tooting on February 1.
He also admitted at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to driving while disqualified.
“On that day you were in an altercation with two young men and received a serious stab wound to your arm,” Recorder John Kingston told Abdul-Latif.
“You were seriously injured, which is likely to have impaired your ability to drive, but it was near a school and pedestrians were in danger of serious injury or being killed.
“You drove a short distance in pursuit of those that had stabbed you and crashed your car and were carrying a passenger when you crashed.”
Abdul-Latin was originally disqualified for four years in 2010 when he received a suspended prison sentence for aggravated vehicle-taking.
He flouted the ban 18 months later and received a suspended sentence for driving while disqualified and was ordered to pass an extended driving test before his licence could be returned.
However, Abdul-Latif passed only an ordinary test in 2015 and remains disqualified.
Despite the ban he held a driving job with the Highways Agency, the court heard, and says he has turned his life around since meeting a new girlfriend while on probation three years ago.
Abdul-Latif claims he did not know he was still banned and is now looking for part-time work on the railways.
When questioned by police he admitted he “lost control” after the violent confrontation, which involved the two unknown cyclists and his younger cousin.
After appearing on the red carpet for the ‘Starred Up’ premiere Abdul-Latif revealed he was first locked-up, aged sixteen years-old, when he smashed up a mosque.
He has stayed out of prison since his last sentence was completed in 2009.
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