Dangerous driver jailed after charity cyclist killed in 'reckless' overtake

Adrian Stocks, 59, was training for a charity bike ride when he was smashed into by a blue Audi Q2 driven by 23-year-old Sohail Jahangir.

Father-of-three Adrian was turning right onto Denton bridge, off Denton Road, near Ilkley, and a car which was behind him at the time slowed down, allowing Adrian plenty of room to cycle.

At the time the nursery owner was preparing for a 'One in A Million' charity cycle event to raise funds for underprivileged youths in Bradford.

Mr Jahangir then approached the car from behind and instead of waiting he decided to overtake not knowing if the road ahead was clear.

He collided with Adrian as he was midway through the turn throwing him into the air before he landed and suffered blunt head injuries including fractures to his skull.

Emergency services scrambled to the scene of the incident which happened on around 5pm on Sunday, April 2, 2023, but despite there best efforts aliant efforts of members of the public he died as a result of his injuries an hour later.

On Thursday (July 16), Jahangir, from Bradford, appeared at Bradford Crown Court where he was jailed for seven years and seven months for causing Adrian's death by dangerous driving.

He was also handed two, two-year jail terms for drug dealing offences and given a further 10-month sentence for a separate dangerous driving offence in Bradford in 2024.

In total, he has been locked up for 10 years and seven months and also banned from driving for 15 years and two months and and is required to take an extended driving test before he can get his licence back.

In a victim impact statement Adrian's wife Della, said the couple had been married for 30 years and together ran a children’s nursery in Ilkley.

She said: "On the day he died, Adrian had been cycling to Bolton Abbey, he was on his way home on a training ride, preparing for a 'One in A Million' charity event in May to raise funds for underprivileged youths in Bradford.

He was always keen to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

"He was enjoying the beautiful countryside he loved so much on that sunny afternoon.

"But he never came home. In that moment - our lives were shattered.

"Adrian's absence has left a permanent void in our family and in our lives. Every single day we are confronted with the reality of what we have lost - a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a friend and the impact of this tragedy is lasting, profound and immeasurable."

Mr Stocks’ daughter, Phoebe, described him as “an amazing man … my rock, and my biggest fan” and said it "was a completely avoidable tragedy".

Jahangir pleaded not guilty all the way through the death by dangerous driving investigation, then changed his plea to guilty on the day he was due to stand trial on 5 May 2026.

At Bradford Crown Court, prosecutor Jayne Beckett said that, following the incident, Jahangir, 23, of North Avenue in Manningham, vowed never to drive again.

But in September 2024, he was at the wheel of a VW Golf that was involved in a high-speed pursuit with a police car which only ended after a six-minute chase along busy roads and residential streets around Manningham.

Jahangir was uninsured at the time.

And, in April 2025, Jahangir was caught in an Audi with cocaine on him.

An examination of his mobile phones later showed he was running a drug-dealing line and supplying Class A drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine, to customers.

Jahangir was also handed jail terms for drug dealing offences including being concerned in the supply of heroin, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply in Bradford between April and June 2025.

He also pleaded guilty to a further charge of dangerous driving for the incident that happened in 2024.

Mitigating, Craig McGregor said: “To the family, the defendant says he is sorry.

“If he could turn back the clock, he would.

“I know that is no consolation.”

He told the court that on the day of the crash, which was Ramadan, Jahangir and a friend had been passing time before the fast could be broken.

He added that signage in the approach to the accident site had been inadequate and had since been improved.

He said Jahangir accepted full responsibility for the overtaking manoeuvre, calling it “an avoidable mistake”, and that Jahangir himself described his actions as “stupid and reckless”.

The court heard that Jahangir got out of his car and sat on a grass verge after the crash.

When approached he was said to be “clearly distressed”.

Sentencing Jahangir, The Recorder of Bradford, His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose, said: “It is right to observe that you stopped at the scene and were arrested.

“[When] interviewed you provided a prepared statement denying the offence and claiming that Adrian Stocks was at fault for approaching and driving into your car and that it was a genuine accident.

“This was a lie.

“Even in the defence statement served in this case you sought to blame your victim.”

He added: “It is said that, following the death of Adrian Stocks, you indicated that you would not drive again.

“It is said that you were full of remorse.

“Whilst I accept that you must have been affected by your actions on April 2, 2023, it is difficult to regard you as remorseful or indeed honest, for you did indeed drive again.

“You drove in a manner which was again dangerous - so dangerous that it illustrates that you had no regard for the fact that you had already been responsible for taking the life of another human being by driving, and by the manner of your driving.”

The court also ordered him to forfeit three vehicles.

Detective Constable Richard Grey, from North Yorkshire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: "Adrian set out that day to get some training for a charity event he was taking part in and was doing nothing wrong.

"He was riding along, using the road in a responsible and safe manner as was described by the witness who also did exactly the right thing by slowing and allowing him space to turn right.

"The one who did not do the right thing was Sohail Jahangir.

"His actions have caused this tragedy and from that day onward will have lasting effects on all who have been involved.

"My thanks also go to the members of the public who found themselves involved in an horrendous incident, but who put their own needs aside to offer first aid to Adrian and gave their time to assist in the ongoing investigation."