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A Muslim van driver mounted a pavement and ploughing into five men after he claims he was racially abused while fasting during Ramadan .

Lugman Aslam, 26, was involved in a fight with the men before mowing them down in Leicester city centre.

A court was shown shocking footage of several victims being mowed down by his van, with one ending up on the bonnet.

Nobody was killed or seriously injured in the attack in Lee Street, Leicester, on the evening of June 28 last year.

Aslam, of Warren View, Leicester, admitted dangerous driving and attempting to inflict intentional grievous bodily harm.

(Image: Google Street View)

He was jailed for five years and banned from driving for four-and-a-half years at Leicester Crown Court on Monday.

Recorder Justin Wigoder said: "I have to take into account the way this incident came about.

"You reversed, not hard, into an individual which led to him and a group attacking you.

"That incident passed and they walked off.

"What you did after that is totally shocking.

"You quite deliberately drove your van at that group who were walking along the pavement.

(Image: PA)

"I've seen it on CCTV and you deliberately mounted the pavement and drove straight at them and right through the middle of them at speed.

"Some were thrown to the side and three were struck by your vehicle front-on, with one going over the bonnet and hitting the windscreen.

"It's quite remarkable that nobody was seriously hurt or killed and the only injuries complained of were bruises and scratches.

"One indication of the force of the collision was your windscreen was smashed - you claimed it had been hit by an animal when you got it repaired.

"You accept your intention, driving at them, was to cause serious injury and that's what makes this case so serious.

"The motivation was driving at them to get your revenge, to get your own back from the fact they'd assaulted you.

"I accept it was completely out of character.

"You're of very positive good previous character and I've received a considerable number of references setting out all the good that is in you.

"You're a good family man with a young daughter and I take that very much into account."

When shown the footage, delivery driver Aslam was shocked and could not explain his actions.

Prosecutor Alexander Wolfson said the fact that they avoided serious injury was "down to the design of the front bumper."

He said: "The driving followed an altercation between the defendant and this group, not very far away from the incident (which happened outside the rear entrance of a Sainsbury's store).

"The defendant was reversing his van when there was contact with one of the group and there was an incident involving the group and the defendant, of a physical and violent nature.

"That was the catalyst for this piece of driving."

Nadeem Aullybocus, defending, said: "He was fasting on that day and had been doing so for about 20 days when this happened.

"He's a hardworking, unassuming and quiet man, of small stature.

"He's never been involved in gang culture and was simply on his way to meet his wife and child when the encounter (with the five men) took place.

"Something happened out of the ordinary and he reacted in a way he can't explain.

"Clearly he saw red and went for these five people.

"He's been suffering from depression ever since.

"Others speak highly of him. He also does charitable work in the community."