A thug who ploughed a Range Rover into a group of men celebrating Eid after an argument has been jailed.

Akikul Islam, of Stanley Road, Little Ilford, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars at the Old Bailey today (Wednesday, July 5) after previously being found guilty of grievous bodily harm.

The court heard how the 25-year-old arrived in Frimley Way, Stepney, at around 1am on July 7 last year accompanied by another car.

CCTV footage showed three men get out of the two cars and become involved in a verbal altercation with a group of approximately ten males who were in the street, before this escalated into a fight.

Islam had remained in the car as the fight escalated around the vehicle, some of those involved were armed with baseball bats and bottles.

The other car drove off but Islam, whose car was facing in the other direction, remained.

The group of men surrounded his car, before he manoeuvred his vehicle to drive directly at the group, running over a 24-year-old man.

Islam then reversed towards the group of men, running over a 20-year-old man and also the man he had previously struck.

He then drove forward with both men stuck beneath the car's wheels before he collided with another parked car - he then drove off into Alderney Road.

The two injured men were taken to hospital for treatment. The 20-year-old man suffered critical injuries and is still receiving medical care. The 24-year-old man was discharged following treatment.

Later that morning, officers on patrol in Vallance Road, Bethnal Green, saw Islam's car in the process of being towed away by a recovery company.

It was found the car had been leased to Islam and he was later arrested on August 8.

Met Detective Inspector Chris Soole said: "This sentence reflects the gravity of his actions that day.

"The court had previously heard that Islam was behind the wheel of a Range Roger which he used as a weapon when he deliberately drove at a group of men who were celebrating Eid-al-Fitr.

"Two of the men required hospital treatment; one of whom is still receiving medical care. It is fortunate that no one else was harmed."