Two men have been jailed for killing a mother and her four-year-old daughter in Leeds while street racing high-performance cars. Justyna Hulboj, 27, and her daughter Lena Czepczor were struck and killed by an Audi TT RS on Scott Hall Road on January 16, 2023, as they walked to Lena's nursery.

At Leeds Crown Court on Monday, Hardeep Bhachu, 29, received a 12-year sentence after admitting two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. Jasskamal Riyat, 37, was jailed for 16 years after being convicted by a jury of the same offenses, which he had denied.

Judge Singh, who sentenced the men, stated that the road was not a racetrack and highlighted the immeasurable consequences and immense impact of the deaths on those left behind. The court heard that Bhachu and Riyat, who did not know each other prior to the incident, accelerated away from traffic lights on Scott Hall Road just before the fatal collision.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Riyat's BMW reached speeds of up to 89 mph in the 40 mph zone before Bhachu lost control of his Audi, mounted the pavement, and hit Ms. Hulboj and her daughter. The judge emphasized that the victims had done nothing wrong and were simply on their way to school.

"A road is not a race track. A powerful car is not an invitation to test its limits on a public road," the judge told the defendants. He added that the consequences of such extreme speed and competitive driving were irreversible in this case. The judge lamented that Justyna and Lena should have returned home that day, but their lives were ended because the drivers prioritized speed and competition over public safety.

Susannah Proctor, representing Bhachu, described her client as a "normal person who's made a massive mistake," stating that he would have to live with the devastation he caused, even though he did not intend it. The fiancé of Justyna Hulboj, Dominik Czepczor, attended the sentencing. A statement read in court from him described how his "whole world collapsed in one second" and that a "huge void" was left by their departure.

Detective Inspector Paul Conroy of West Yorkshire Police's Major Collision Enquiry Team acknowledged that no sentence could compensate for the loss of life, stating that a woman and her young daughter died due to the actions of these men. Dashcam footage showing the drivers moments before the crash was presented as evidence during the proceedings.

The incident underscores the dangers of illegal street racing and excessive speed on public roads, particularly in built-up areas. The significant sentences handed down reflect the severity of the offenses and the tragic loss of life, serving as a stark warning to others who engage in such reckless behavior.