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Driver boasted of 142mph speeding on Snapchat hours before killing another driver by going through red light

Addil Haroon's six-year sentence is being reviewed after claims it was 'too lenient'

Alexander Ward
Friday 29 May 2015 11:24 EDT
The scene of the crash that ripped Joseph Brown-Lartey's Audi in two
The scene of the crash that ripped Joseph Brown-Lartey's Audi in two (PA)

A driver, who boasted on Snapchat about reaching 142mph the night before he sped through a red light and killed another motorist, is to have his sentence reviewed by the Attorney General.

Addil Haroon, 19, sent friends a photograph of the speedometer of his rented Audi A6 while on the M62 motorway, boasting “Leeds to Rochdale 11 mins catch me”.

Mr Haroon has since written a letter to Joseph Brown-Lartey's family, saying "sorry for the heartache I have caused you and your family," the Machester Evening News reported.

In the early hours of the next day, Mr Haroon drove the hire car through a red light on Bury Road, Rochdale, colliding with an Audi A5, driven by Mr Brown-Lartey, 22.

Addil Haroon was jailed at Manchester Minshull Street Crown for six years, after he sped through a red light at at more than 80mph, killing another driver
Addil Haroon was jailed at Manchester Minshull Street Crown for six years, after he sped through a red light at at more than 80mph, killing another driver (PA)

Mr Haroon was given a six year jail sentence at Manchester Minshull Crown Court yesterday, but the sentence will now be reviewed after a number of complaints that it was too lenient.

Mr Brown-Lartey was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident at the junction of Sandy Lane. The force of the collision was such that Mr Brown-Lartey’s car was ripped in two.

Police said that experienced traffic officers described the scene as the worst accident that they had had to deal with.

Mr Haroon wrote: "I can’t go back and change my actions that night. If I could, I would do so immediately. My stupidity cost an innocent life. I will live with that for the rest of my life.I’m deeply sorry. I don’t deserve your forgiveness.

Addil Haroon, 19, of Essex Street, Rochdale, was jailed at Manchester Minshull Street Crown for six years, after he sped through a red light at at more than 80mph, killing another driver
Addil Haroon, 19, of Essex Street, Rochdale, was jailed at Manchester Minshull Street Crown for six years, after he sped through a red light at at more than 80mph, killing another driver (PA)

"I know sorry will never be good enough. I never set out to hurt anybody. I’m deeply sorry for the pain I have caused."

A spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s office said today: "We have been asked to consider whether Addil Haroon’s sentence is unreasonably low, under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

"The Attorney or Solicitor General will make a decision by 25 June, 2015 as to whether the case should be referred to the Court of Appeal."

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