Challenge over teenager's sentence in M606 triple death crash

Jack Simpson, 16, from the Allerton area, pleaded guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of dangerous driving on the same date – June 13.

His victims were taxi driver Sohail Ali, 28, and his passenger Simon McHugh, 49, who were pronounced dead at the scene. Kyden Leadbeater, 18, who was a passenger in a van, died in hospital a day later.

Sohail Ali and Simon McHugh

But Simpson’s sentence, six years’ detention and out on licence after serving half that period, prompted anger from the victim’s families.

Now a bid has been made under a scheme for sentences thought to be too lenient.

The Attorney General’s Office will consider the case and must decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal for a hearing if it appears “unduly lenient”.

READ MORE:

• Why wasn't teen driver who killed three people locked up for longer?
• Boy, 16, given six years' detention for killing three people while speeding wrong way down M606

Under the rules of the unduly lenient sentence scheme, the Attorney General's Office has 28 days from the date of sentence to make a decision on the case.

They can decide to send the matter to the Court of Appeal, which could rule that the sentence is unreasonably low and may increase it.

Police released dashcam footage of the Ford van on the wrong side of the road. Picture: West Yorkshire Police

Simpson was driving a stolen van on false plates, speeding the wrong way down the M606 when it smashed into Mr Ali’s taxi.

Bradford Crown Court heard he had accelerated away from police and the blue lights and sirens were activated. He drove through a red light at roadworks and the wrong way round roundabouts.

Film footage was shown in court of the fleeing blue van doing up to 90mph with the police in pursuit, and of the collision scene.

Simpson was taken to hospital with a fractured leg and other serious injuries.

Judge Richard Mansell QC said the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving was 14 years. New guidelines had raised it to life imprisonment just days after the crash.

Simpson’s is the third Bradford case in recent weeks to be challenged under this scheme.

A hearing is to take place at the Court of Appeal in a matter of weeks over Sheryar Khan who was jailed for murdering Kian Tordoff in a “ferocious” knife attack in Bradford city centre.

And the case of Thomas Nutt, who murdered his bride Dawn Walker on their wedding night, is still being considered by the Attorney General’s Office.

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