Driver who killed woman has sentence increased

Tasham Mahmood had admitted causing death by dangerous driving

A driver who killed a great-grandmother and then threw his dashcam into another person's car has had his prison sentence increased.

Tasham Mahmood, 34, hit 69-year-old Carol Andrew as she crossed a road in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, in July 2021.

He was originally sentenced to four years in prison in April 2025 after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

However, the Solicitor General referred the case to the Court of Appeal, with her lawyers arguing the sentence was "unduly lenient." Judges increased the term to six years and four months at a hearing on Thursday.

Lord Justice Singh said Ms Andrew's death was "tragic and needless", and offered "sincere sympathy" to her family.

He continued that CCTV and dashcam footage showed the "appalling nature of the offender's driving over a sustained period of time".

He said: "The offender drove dangerously and without regard to the safety of other road users. He performed dangerous manoeuvres."

Carol Andrew's family said her death had "devastated the entire family and turned their world upside down"

Mahmood's disqualification from driving was also increased, from seven years to eight years and two months.

Lawyers for the Solicitor General said in written submissions that Ms Andrew was walking home with her dog as she crossed White Lee Road in Heckmondwike when she was struck by Mahmood's Seat Leon.

Ms Andrew, a mother of two, grandmother of four and great-grandmother of one, suffered "multiple injuries, including massive chest injuries' and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Barrister Louise Oakley said Mahmood, of Hawke Avenue in Heckmondwike, was driving home after being told his brother was "seriously unwell", with his sibling dying later that night.

In the minutes before the collision, Mahmood overtook several vehicles, drove through three red lights and reached speeds of more than 80mph.

He also averaged a speed of more than 60mph on White Lee Road, twice the 30mph speed limit.

Ms Oakley continued that after the collision, Mahmood threw his dashcam into the car of a passing motorist who had stopped because of the incident, but the device was later handed in.

Mahmood admitted causing Ms Andrew's death in January and was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court in April.

Ms Oakley said the judge had given too much weight to mitigating features in the case, including that Mahmood had shown remorse, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and flashbacks, and had suffered other family bereavements.

Barristers for Mahmood had argued that "mercy" was a "necessary feature" of the case, and that the sentence should not be increased.

Solicitor General Ellie Reeves said: "Tasham Mahmood's reckless driving needlessly took an innocent woman's life.

"He callously left the scene before emergency services arrived but not before he discarded his dashcam.

"I welcome the Court of Appeal's decision to increase Mahmood's sentence.

"Carol Andrew was approaching her 70th birthday and retirement having served her community diligently and I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Carol's family and friends."

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