Delivery Driver Jailed for Six Years in Child's Death

A delivery driver has been sentenced to six years in prison for causing the death of a five-year-old boy by dangerous driving. Colin Agyei, 32, drove the wrong way down a one-way street in Leeds in an attempt to save time on his deliveries, colliding with Abdullah Ebrahim on July 7, 2022.

Abdullah's mother, Salma Begum, witnessed the incident and stated she is haunted by the image of her son lying in the street. Agyei continued driving without stopping. The boy later died in hospital.

A jury found Agyei guilty of causing death by dangerous driving last month. He was also given a driving ban of more than seven years. At Leeds Crown Court, Judge Tom Bayliss KC told Agyei that he took Abdullah's life "for no better reason" than to save time.

The judge noted that the one-way system was clearly signed and Agyei had ample opportunity to see the signs. He described the street as narrow, a place where children might be playing or crossing. Although Agyei was not speeding, his speed was deemed inappropriate for the backstreet. The judge accepted that Agyei had expressed remorse and may have been unaware of the collision. "This was a little boy," the judge concluded. "It's hard to imagine a more vulnerable road user."

Ms. Begum told the court that she struggled to understand why Agyei did not stop. She described the emotional toll of the trial, having to listen to Agyei's account change and feeling he was not truthful. The jury deliberated for approximately 40 minutes before reaching their verdict. "For me and my family, however, the pain did not end with that verdict," she stated. "We have waited four years for justice."

Detective Sergeant Steve Suggit of West Yorkshire Police's Major Collision Enquiry Team called the incident "truly tragic" and stated it was "completely avoidable" had Agyei obeyed the 'no entry' sign. He explained that Abdullah would not have been expecting a vehicle coming the wrong way and had no time to react. Investigations revealed that the nature of the backstreet meant speeds over 7 mph were unsafe, despite Agyei's estimated speed of around 15 mph. Agyei admitted to a lesser charge of careless driving but was convicted of the more serious offense. Detective Suggit acknowledged that no sentence could compensate for the lifelong grief Abdullah's family faces.