Saudi Driver Gets 1,000 Lashes for Fast and Furious-Style Stunt

A young man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes and a lifetime driving ban for a series of "car drifting" offences by Saudi Arabia's General Court.

The 23-year-old man, known as 'The King of Nazeem Neighborhood", appeared many times on YouTube videos 'drifting' with his car - a technique of over-steering into a corner so that the front of the car can be at right angles to the direction of the turn.

Many residents in Riyadh expressed concern and fear about the man's reckless behaviour and disregard for public safety, according to reports.

Undercover police officers arrested the man in November 2012 while he was hiding inside a house on the outskirts of the Riyadh.

The police then confiscated 21 tyres and different tools as well as licence plates, false identification cards and other documents he used to divert police attention.

The prosecutor general objected to the court's verdict and demanded the case be reviewed, insisting the defendant should be executed because of his actions that had allegedly killed a man.

Another young Saudi man was sentenced to 150 lashes for drifting his car after police repeatedly caught him in 2012, the Green Prophet reported.

Police Director Maj Yehya Al-Biladi warned young men not to practise drifting, and guaranteed severe penalties. Women are not permitted to drive under Saudi law.

Al-Biladi added it was "completely wrong" that Islam discourages seat belts "as safety is in God's hands".

The sentence that the young man received for car drifting under Saudi Sharia law is less than that handed to the Saudi preacher who raped and killed his five-year old daughter.

Fayhan al-Ghamdi was sentenced to eight years in prison and 800 lashes in 2013, but was released just months later after agreeing to pay "blood money" by way of retribution for his crimes.