A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to six years detention for killing three people while speeding the wrong way down the M606 at Bradford in a stolen Ford Transit van.

Jack Simpson, from the Allerton area, was aged 15 when he crashed head-on into a taxi on the southbound carriageway on June 13.

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

Mr McHugh's mum spoke directly to Simpson in court as she bravely read out her family's victim impact statement.

She told Bradford Crown Court she was in disbelief at hearing the news, adding that her life was changed forever.

'I lost my friend and confidant' and 'he is a big loss in my life', she said.

"He (Simpson) is only young, he has time to change. I hope he has a very happy life with children. My son doesn't have a life anymore. Please use it, do some good with your life."

Sentencing Simpson, the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, said: “Allowing you credit for a guilty plea the sentence on the three offences is one of six years concurrent on each.

“That is six years detention on the grounds that neither a sentence of detention and training, nor a youth rehabilitation order are appropriate disposals in this case."

He continued: “These sentences will be regarded by many as placing a wholly inadequate value on the lives of Mr Ali, Mr McHugh and Mr Leadbeater.

“They are not intended to place a value on their lives, and the sentences are in truth the maximum sentences I could pass on you for such offences.

“You will serve half the period of six years in custody less time on remand to date and then will be released on licence.

“It means you will be just approaching 19 by the time you are released on licence.”

Simpson pleaded guilty to three charges of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of dangerous driving on the same date.

Judge Mansell said Simpson could now be named publicly after a written application by the Telegraph & Argus. But the Press must not report his exact address.

Prosecutor David McGonigal said the van was stolen and on false plates when it smashed into Mr Ali’s taxi.

Simpson 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 Bradford Royal Infirmary and transferred to Leeds General Infirmary with a fractured leg and other serious injuries.

Peter Moulson QC said in mitigation that he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, he was 15 at the time and had no previous convictions.

He had a chaotic upbringing that had affected his development. He had been exposed to domestic abuse and neglect that had left him traumatised.

He had special educational needs and was emotionally immature partly because of his lack of regular attendance at school.

The crash was unplanned. He himself was injured and his friend killed.

While on remand he had behaved well and was taking steps to make progress in that environment.

He accepted full responsibility and had demonstrated remorse, saying: ‘I’m never going to forgive myself’ and he didn’t like talking about it ‘because I would never stop crying.’ Judge Mansell said Simpson was just days short of his 16th birthday and on bail and a curfew for burglaries.

Just before 11pm he was driving the van with two front seat passengers when he accelerated away from the police.

He was doing 70mph in a 30 zone and he went through a temporary red light at roadworks and the wrong way round a roundabout heading for Cleckheaton. He speeded up to 95mph at one point.

Just before the Chain Bar Roundabout he passed between parked vehicles to switch lanes to take an exit road and go the wrong way round the roundabout.

He joined the southbound carriageway against the flow of traffic. A driver flashed his lights and blew his horn to avoid a collision.

Judge Mansell 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 was banned from driving for six years and he must pass an extended test before he applies for a licence.