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Two men responsible for the deaths of a mother and her young daughter during a high-speed car race along a busy road in Leeds city centre have been sentenced to prison. The victims, 27-year-old Justyna Hulboj and her four-year-old daughter Lena Czepczor, lost their lives after being struck by an Audi TT RS while walking to Lena’s nursery on the A61 Scott Hall Road on 16 January 2023.
At Leeds Crown Court, Hardeep Bhachu, aged 29, received a 12-year jail term, while 37-year-old Jasskamal Riyat was sentenced to 16 years. Judge Singh, delivering the sentence, emphasized that the road where the incident occurred was “not a race track.” He highlighted that the fatal consequences of their actions had an “immeasurable” impact on the family and others affected by the tragedy.
Bhachu, who lives in Adel, admitted to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Riyat, from Moortown, was found guilty by a jury after denying involvement in the race. The court heard how the two men—strangers before that day—accelerated off traffic lights on Scott Hall Road. Prosecutors stated Riyat’s BMW reached speeds of up to 89 mph in a 40 mph limit zone before Bhachu lost control of his vehicle, mounting the pavement and fatally hitting Justyna and Lena.
During the hearing, Bhachu’s lawyer described him as a “normal person who’s made a massive mistake,” acknowledging the irreversible damage caused. The mother’s fiancé, Dominik Czepczor, read a statement expressing his heartbreak: “My whole world collapsed in one second… My dream was to have a wonderful family, and I must say that it came true for a short while, but that was taken away from me on January 16.” Detective Inspector Paul Conroy of the West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team remarked that while no sentence can replace the lives lost, the conclusion of the trial offers some closure after a long and difficult process for the family
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