Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Two Indian-origin men have been jailed for a total of 28 years after their dangerous driving led to the deaths of a woman and her four-year-old daughter in northern England, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Hardeep Bhachu, 29, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Jasskamal Riyat, 37, received a 16-year sentence at Leeds Crown Court. Both were convicted of causing the deaths of 27-year-old Justyna Hulboj and her daughter, Lena Czepczor, by dangerous driving.
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Bhachu pleaded guilty to causing the two deaths. Riyat, who was captured on CCTV racing Bhachu immediately before the collision, was found guilty of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving following a trial at Leeds Crown Court in August.
Addressing the two men in court, Judge Ray Singh said: “A road is not a race track. A powerful car is not an invitation to test its limits on a public road.”
“The consequences of competitive driving at extreme speed can be, and in this case were, irreversible,” he said.
The crash took place in January 2023. Bhachu lost control of his vehicle and hit Justyna and Lena before crashing into the wall of the Vertu Jaguar Leeds car dealership on Scott Hall Road in Leeds. The mother and daughter, who were walking to school, died at the scene.
Detective Inspector Paul Conroy of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team told PTI: “A woman and her young daughter have died because of the actions of these men, and I know no sentence will ever feel enough to compensate for the lives that have been lost.”
“This sentencing hearing though does mark the end of a long criminal justice process for Justyna and Lena’s family. It is over two years since Bhachu admitted his part in this tragic incident and I know that the wait for justice has taken its toll. My thoughts are firmly with them today,” he said.
Bhachu was taken to hospital with injuries suffered in the collision and was later arrested. He pleaded guilty soon after the crash, while Riyat denied involvement and was convicted after a trial.
West Yorkshire Police identified Riyat as the driver of a black BMW 135i that was racing Bhachu with the help of dashcam and CCTV footage provided by members of the public. Bhachu’s dashcam also recorded a conversation between the two men when they stopped at traffic lights. Bhachu was heard saying that his Audi had 560 horsepower and that he had been driving at only a quarter of its full throttle.
“Bhachu and Riyat didn’t know each other. They were two men showing off their fast cars on a busy dual carriageway,” Conroy said.
“Ultimately, Bhachu thought he could drive at those speeds in his high-powered car, but he couldn’t, and his loss of control took two lives and ruined many more.”
“Riyat witnessed this collision but instead of stopping to check if those involved were okay, he left the scene. He denied his involvement but was convicted thanks to the extensive footage showing his speeding vehicle in the moments leading up to the collision,” he added.
Bhachu and Riyat were also banned from driving for six years. They will have to take an extended driving test after the ban ends.
In a statement, Justyna’s fianc and Lena’s father said his “whole world collapsed in one second” after the crash.
“Every day I feel a huge void after their departure, and I imagine what it would be like if they were still alive. We had so many plans and dreams and in one moment it all ended… This nightmare will last for the rest of my life,” he said.
The two men will serve a combined 28 years in prison and face six-year driving bans for the crash that killed Justyna and Lena while they were walking to school.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
