London Driver Arafath Ahmed Jailed Over Fatal 129mph Sussex Crash

A 27-year-old driver who reached speeds of 129 mph before losing control of his vehicle and causing the death of his passenger has been jailed for nine years and six months.

Arafath Ahmed, of Croydon Road, Plaistow, London, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Monday, June 29, following a comprehensive investigation into the fatal high-speed collision.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Ahmed was disqualified from driving for 12 years and 10 months. He had previously entered a guilty plea to a single count of causing death by dangerous driving.

The fatal incident occurred just after 10:00 pm on August 10, 2024. Ahmed was driving a silver Audi down the A23 Southbound near the village of Warninglid in West Sussex, accompanied by three friends on a spontaneous evening trip from London to Brighton.

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The court heard that Ahmed had been driving at grossly excessive speeds for many miles along the route, with his speed rarely dropping below 89 mph. As he approached a bend in the road at an "eye-watering" 129 mph, Ahmed lost total control of the vehicle.

The Audi veered violently off the carriageway, colliding heavily with a lamp post and a nearby verge. The impact was severe enough to eject rear-seat passenger Mohammed Morshed from the vehicle, leaving him trapped underneath the wreckage.

Despite the swift arrival and exhaustive efforts of emergency services at the scene, Mr Morshed succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

Ahmed was arrested by officers at the scene and taken into custody before being released under investigation while specialized enquiries were carried out.

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A meticulous reconstruction of the collision site combined with data extracted from the Audi's electronic systems revealed that the vehicle was traveling at nearly double the speed limit, peaking at 129 mph exactly four seconds prior to the impact.

Furthermore, a physical search of the vehicle yielded highly incriminating evidence, including:

•  Multiple nitrous oxide canisters
•  Balloons scattered inside the vehicle
• A specific balloon recovered from the driver's footwell, which subsequently tested positive for traces of Ahmed's DNA

Forensic toxicological checks established that while Ahmed had been drinking and smoking weed prior to the crash, his levels were not over the legal limit.

Following a lengthy investigation by Sussex Police, Ahmed was formally charged with causing death by dangerous driving on December 1, 2025. He made his initial court appearance to answer the charge at Crawley Magistrates' Court on January 7.

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On April 15, Ahmed entered a formal guilty plea to the charge. He was granted bail under strict conditions to await his final sentencing hearing at Hove Crown Court.

In delivering the custodial sentence, Judge Gold KC heavily condemned Ahmed's reckless behavior behind the wheel, emphasizing the prolonged nature of his dangerous driving.

"You were driving with three friends on a spontaneous trip from London to Brighton. One of your passengers was Mohammed Morshed, and you were driving at grossly excessive speeds on the evening of 10 August.

"You had driven for many miles of speeds in excess of the speed limit, rarely dropping below 89 mph.

You were driving at an eye watering 129mph four seconds before the collision. At the point of the collision, Mr Morshed was thrown from the machine.

"You had been drinking alcohol and smoking weed, although you were not over the limit, there were also nitrous oxide canisters in the car, and a balloon found in the drivers footwell with your DNA."

Following the conclusion of the court proceedings, Serious Collision Investigator Francesca Walton expressed gratitude to the members of the public who assisted the investigation:

"Following a long and thorough investigation into the collision that claimed Mohammed's life on 10 August 2024, we have now seen the driver responsible sentenced to time behind bars.

"Ahmed was found to have driven at speeds of almost double speed limit, showing a complete disregard for the safety of both his passengers and other road users.

"Our thoughts remain with Mohammed's family as this case comes to a close, and we hope they can continue on their journey of healing. I would also like to thank the witnesses who came forward and provided vital information, which proved invaluable to our investigation."