Two men have been jailed for a combined 28 years after their dangerous driving caused the deaths of a mother and her four-year-old daughter in Leeds.
Two men have been sentenced to a combined 28 years in prison after their dangerous driving caused the deaths of a mother and her four-year-old daughter as they walked to school in Leeds.
Hardeep Bhachu, 29, of Grant Row, Adel, and Jasskamal Riyat, 37, of Buckstone Avenue, Moortown, were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Monday 26 October 2026.
The case relates to a collision on Scott Hall Road on 16 January 2023, which claimed the lives of 27-year-old Justyna Hulboj and her daughter, Lena Czepczor.
The pair were walking to school when they were struck by a white Audi TT driven by Bhachu, who had been racing another vehicle.
What happened on Scott Hall Road?
Shortly after 8.30am, Bhachu lost control of his Audi TT while driving along Scott Hall Road.
His vehicle struck Justyna and Lena before crashing into the wall of the Vertu Jaguar Leeds car dealership.
Both mother and daughter died at the scene.
Bhachu was taken to hospital following the collision and was subsequently arrested.
A police investigation established that he had been racing a black BMW 135i driven by Riyat immediately before the fatal crash.
The two drivers did not know each other before the incident.
Dashcam footage revealed dangerous driving
Detectives from West Yorkshire Police's Major Collision Enquiry Team examined CCTV and dashcam footage supplied by members of the public, along with footage recovered from Bhachu's own vehicle.
The evidence showed the two men driving at excessive speeds along the busy dual carriageway.
Bhachu's dashcam also captured a conversation between the drivers while they were stopped at traffic lights.
During the exchange, Bhachu boasted that his Audi had 560 horsepower and claimed he had only been using a quarter of its throttle.
Investigators said the footage was crucial in establishing the dangerous nature of both men's driving.
Riyat witnessed the fatal collision but left the scene without stopping to check on those involved.
He was arrested later that afternoon.
Prison sentences totalling 28 years
Bhachu pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Justyna and Lena by dangerous driving in June 2024.
He had remained in custody while proceedings against Riyat continued.
In August 2026, a jury at Leeds Crown Court found Riyat guilty of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
At the sentencing hearing on Monday 26 October:
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Jasskamal Riyat, 37: Sentenced to 16 years in prison.
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Hardeep Bhachu, 29: Sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Both men were also disqualified from driving for six years and will be required to pass an extended driving test.
Police condemn reckless actions
Detective Inspector Paul Conroy, of West Yorkshire Police's Major Collision Enquiry Team, said the actions of the two drivers had devastated a family.
He said:
"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."
He acknowledged the lengthy legal proceedings and the additional distress caused to the victims' family.
He added:
"This sentencing hearing though does mark the end of a long criminal justice process for Justyna and Lena’s family."
Following the convictions in August, Detective Inspector Conroy described the collision as horrifying, saying that even experienced investigators had been shocked by what happened.
Police have released footage showing the moments leading up to the collision in the hope of discouraging dangerous driving.
Heartbreaking statement from grieving father
Following the convictions, the fiancé of Justyna Hulboj and father of Lena Czepczor released an emotional statement describing the devastating impact of losing his family.
He explained that before the collision, he had everything that mattered most to him: a good job, a loving fiancée and a wonderful daughter.
Recalling the morning of 16 January 2023, he said:
"When I was informed about their deaths, my whole world collapsed in one second."
He described the emptiness he continues to experience and the future plans the family will never fulfil.
He added:
"I know that I will have to live with the burden of losing the two most important people in my life for the rest of my life."
The statement also recalled his final goodbye to Justyna and Lena that morning, when he told them he loved them, unaware it would be the last time he would see them.
Family's long wait for justice ends
The sentencing concludes criminal proceedings lasting more than three years since the deaths of Justyna and Lena.
West Yorkshire Police thanked members of the public who supplied CCTV and dashcam footage, which helped investigators establish the circumstances of the collision.
Detective Inspector Conroy said his thoughts remained firmly with the family following their long wait for justice.
The case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of dangerous driving and racing on public roads.
Source: West Yorkshire Police, sentencing update 26 October 2026, with details from the conviction announcement of 28 August 2026.
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