A Bradford man has been jailed after a collision on a narrow country road in Ilkley left a cyclist dead more than three years ago. The sentence, handed down at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday, brings to an end a case that has underscored concerns about road safety, repeat offending and illegal drug activity in the district.
Incident and immediate aftermath
The victim, Adrian Stocks, 59, was training for a charity ride when he was struck on 2 April 2023 on Denton Road, Ilkley. He suffered severe head injuries, including skull fractures, and was pronounced dead about an hour after the collision despite the efforts of other drivers and emergency services.
The driver, identified in court as Sohail Jahangir, 23, of North Avenue, Manningham, told officers after the crash that he would never drive again. The prosecution described the collision as "completely avoidable." Witnesses reported Mr Stocks had been indicating to turn right when the Audi Q2 driven by Jahangir reportedly "shot past [another motorist] on her right-hand side and crashed straight into" him.
"The extent of the injuries to him made it obvious to them that he was very badly injured and not conscious,"
Those words were used in court by prosecutor Jayne Beckett to describe the scene and the severity of Mr Stocks’ injuries.
Defendant's record and broader context
The court heard Jahangir had further brushes with the law after the collision. In September 2024 he was the driver of a VW Golf involved in a six-minute high-speed police pursuit through busy roads in and around Manningham; at that time he was uninsured. In April 2025 he was found in an Audi in possession of cocaine, and a later examination of his mobile phones indicated he was operating a drug-supply line, allegedly dealing Class A substances including heroin and crack cocaine.
- Victim: Adrian Stocks, 59
- Location: Denton Road, Ilkley
- Driver: Sohail Jahangir, 23, of Manningham
- Outcomes: More than a decade in prison; driving ban exceeding 15 years
Community impact and court response
Family statements in court highlighted the human cost of the collision. Mr Stocks’ widow, Della, and other relatives gave accounts of the impact his death has had on their lives; the couple had run a children’s nursery in Ilkley. The sentencing reflects both the immediate consequences of the crash and the court’s assessment of the defendant’s wider offending behaviour.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | 2 April 2023 |
| Court | Bradford Crown Court |
| Sentence | Imprisonment: over 10 years; Driving disqualification: more than 15 years |
The case serves as a reminder of ongoing road safety concerns in the district, particularly on narrow country lanes used by cyclists and other vulnerable road users. It also exposes links between dangerous driving and wider criminal behaviour, including uninsured driving, police pursuits and drug offences.
Civic and community groups in Bradford and surrounding areas have consistently pressed for measures to reduce road collisions — from better signage and traffic calming to improved enforcement and education for drivers. The sentencing is likely to renew calls for targeted action around routes popular with cyclists and for continued partnership work between police, health services and local authorities to protect vulnerable road users.
The family of the victim will be able to seek further information about compensation and support through victim services. The court process, which included testimony from witnesses and detailed evidence of the defendant’s subsequent offending, has now concluded with a custodial sentence and an extended driving ban.
