A BRADFORD man who fled the scene of a crash on Wakefield Road after colliding with two vehicles and killing his passenger has seen his sentence increased.

Christopher Windle, 21, will now serve a jail term of six years and two months for causing death by dangerous driving.

Following a referral by Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP, the Court of Appeal in London found Windle's original sentence of four years and nine months to be "unduly lenient" on Wednesday.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Stephen Tordoff, and the tributes that were left at the sceneStephen Tordoff, and the tributes that were left at the scene

Windle, formerly of Kesteven Road, Holme Wood, was involved in a fatal crash back in 2019, while driving a vehicle whilst disqualified.

Windle was speeding when he crashed into another vehicle, killing his passenger Stephen Tordoff and injuring three other passengers.

Windle then fled the scene, and it was not until a few days later that he turned himself into the police.

He was convicted of two counts of dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst disqualified and causing death by driving while uninsured.

Windle received his original sentence at Bradford Crown Court on September 17.

His sentence was challenged under a scheme that allows jail terms felt to be unduly lenient to be reviewed by the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

In December 2021, it emerged that the matter had been referred to the Court of Appeal, as the AGO believed it was too low.

Under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, his sentence was increased by a further 18 months this morning.

Speaking after the hearing, Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP said: “Windle’s irresponsible actions ended a young life and endangered others.

"The level of selfishness shown by his actions before, during and after the crash was astounding.

"I believed his sentence to be unduly lenient and I am glad that the Court of Appeal agreed today.”

The collision happened at 10.54pm on September 10, 2019, when a Renault Megane, driven by Windle, was in collision with a Volkswagen Transporter van on Wakefield Road, close to the junctions with Neville Road and New Hey Road.

In the wake of the fatal crash, scores of floral tributes, balloons and other personal messages and tributes were left in Mr Tordoff ’s memory - known to his friends as ‘Stizzy’

Silver balloons spelt out “RIP S.T.”, with a large number of bouquets of flowers taped to the railings, each with heartfelt messages.

Family photos of Mr Tordoff with his relatives were also left at the scene in his memory.

At the time, a relative of Mr Tordoff said: “We were pretty close. It’s a complete shock and it’s just sad. He had his whole life ahead of him. Stephen was well respected and made everyone laugh. There was never a dull moment.”

The crash which claimed the life of Mr Tordoff was the first major collision at the junction in Wakefield Road since major roadworks were completed to remove the roundabout and replace it with the current layout.

The new traffic light-controlled system was put in to replace the roundabout in a bid to improve traffic flow at the junction.

The works began in January 2019 and were completed by August of that year.

Following the original sentencing last year, Police Sergeant Mick Kilburn, said: “Windle’s actions on that night show that he had no consideration for anyone but himself, which sadly resulted in the loss of a young man’s life.

“The death of Mr Tordoff has had a lasting impact on his family and robbed them of a life with a much-loved son, grandson and brother.”