Two brothers who killed 'deeply loved father', 41, and injured his nine-year-old son while racing each other home are jailed

Published: 21:17, 7 August 2026 | Updated: 21:18, 7 August 2026 Two brothers who killed a father and seriously injured his nine-year-old son while racing their cars at up to 100mph on a country road have been jailed. Rhys Jenkins, 41, died after a BMW X3 driven by Abubakr Ben Yusaf crashed head-on into his Toyota Yaris in November 2024. His son Ioan was airlifted to Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool after suffering two broken arms, a fractured rib and a perforated bowel in the crash on the A483 in Powys. Ben Yusaf was sentenced to 14 years in prison for causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing death while uninsured. His brother Umar, who had been driving behind him in an Audi S4, was sentenced to two years and nine months in jail for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Mr Jenkins, a rugby referee, had been taking his son from their home in Meifod to Cardiff for Wales's match against Australia. It was to be the first time the father and son had watched a Welsh rugby game together. Prosecutor David Mainstone said the crash happened when Abubakr's car lost control and Mr Jenkins 'couldn't avoid the collision'. Rhys Jenkins, a rugby coach, was killed after a head-on collision as he travelled to watch a Wales rugby game with his son Abubakr Ben Yusaf was jailed for 14 years for crashing into Mr Jenkins in his BMW X3 after racing his brother and driving 'aggressively' Umar Ben Yusaf was jailed for two years and nine months after a court heard his driving had contributed to the crash He said the father and his son 'paid a terrible price' because the brothers had been driving 'with no consideration for other road users'. Both defendants had denied all the charges against them at Mold crown court but were found guilty by a jury. The brothers, from Manchester and both locum optometrists, had been racing each other, 'aggressively' tailgating cars, flashing their lights and recklessly overtaking in the moments before the crash, witnesses said. They fled the crash as bystanders helped Ioan from the car. Within 40 minutes of the crash Umar drove back to the scene and told a police community support officer that he had been responsible. The court heard they had been driving from Aberystwyth to the home they shared in Manchester and often did locum work in Wales. Mr Jenkins's wife Carrie said her son was emotionally and physically scarred by the crash. 'It's impossible to convey the full impact Rhys' death had on us,' she said, and there is still a 'massive hole left in our lives by his unnecessary death'. Ioan said he wished Mr Jenkins was still alive to 'watch me grow up and be my dad'. Mr Jenkins pictured with his family. His son Ioan (left) was airlifted to hospital after the crash Judge Timothy Petts said Mr Jenkins had been driving 'perfectly properly and did nothing wrong', adding he had 'no time to avoid the collision'. 'It has been an horrendous time for all of you,' he told the victim's family. Speaking to the defendants, Judge Petts said: 'Both of you were constantly riding your luck at high speed, completely unnecessarily, and eventually it ran out with appalling consequences.' Sergeant Sara John, of Dyfed-Powys police's serious collision investigation unit, said: 'The sentences passed today cannot undo the tragic loss suffered by Rhys's family, who have shown remarkable strength throughout this investigation and court process. 'I hope that today's outcome provides them with some closure as they begin to move forward with their lives, which have been changed forever. 'The actions of Abubakr and Umar Yusaf on that day were catastrophic. Their choice to drive in the manner they did shows their utter disregard towards other road users. 'The impact of their actions can never be underestimated.' Joanne Brine, Mrs Jenkins's solicitor, said it had been an 'unimaginably distressing time' for her client as she and her family coped with 'a life-changing situation which she has handled with courage and grace'. 'Nothing will ever heal the overwhelming pain of his loss, but they continue to navigate their future in the best way possible, with the invaluable support of their wider community. 'We will continue to support the family as they pursue civil redress for the actions which led to Rhys's untimely death.'