Racers guilty of causing Leeds crash that killed mum and daughter walking to school sentenced
Justyna Hulboj, 27, and four-year-old Lena Czepczor died at the scene
A pair of racing motorists in Leeds have been jailed for 28 years after being convicted of causing the deaths of a mother and her four-year-old daughter as they walked to school.
Car salesman Jasskamal Riyat was found by a jury to have been racing against Hardeep Bhachu, who lost control and ploughed into the pair as they walked along Scott Hall Road on their way to school in January 2023.
Justyna Hulboj, 27, and four-year-old Lena Czepczor died at the scene after they were struck by Bhachu’s powerful Audi TT RS just after 8.30am on January 16, 2023.
Bhachu, of Grant Row, Adel, pleaded guilty in June 2024 to causing their deaths by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Leeds Crown Court today.
Riyat, of Buckstone Avenue, Moortown, denied responsibility, despite dashcam footage clearly showing he and Bhachu, who did not know each other, competing against each other at high speeds.
He was convicted of causing their death by dangerous driving by a unanimous verdict after a five-day trial in August and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
They were both handed six year driving bans and will be required to take extended driving tests.
During the trial, the jury heard how Bhachu had been travelling at almost 90mph on the 40mph road when he hit a kerb and lost control, mounted the pavement close to the Jaguar dealership, striking and killing the pair.
It was heard that minutes earlier, Bhachu and Riyat, who was driving a powerful BMW M135i, had a conversation through their windows as they waited side-by-side at traffic lights.
Recorded on Riyat’s phone and through Bhachu’s own dashcam, they were heard congratulating each other on the power of their cars, with Riyat “egging him on”. They began to race, with Riyat accelerating away first, followed by Bhachu who then put his foot down.
Witnesses gave evidence, telling the jury that they were “obviously racing”.
Eventually, Bhachu, 29, accelerated away and Riyat, was heard laughing on his own phone footage, and saying: “Watch this guy let it off. He is gone.” Seconds later, Bhachu lost control.
37-year-old Riyat continued to film the crashed car as he passed by and left the scene, continuing on his way to work. He failed to contact the emergency services and was later arrested.