Mother of TikTok influencer fails to reduce prison sentence for car crash deaths
The Court of Appeal has rejected Ansreen Bukhari's sentencing appeal
Last updated 3rd Jul 2026
Ansreen Bukhari, the mother of a TikTok influencer who was involved in a fatal car crash, has lost her appeal to have her jail sentence reduced, as Court of Appeal judges deemed it appropriate.
The 49-year-old was in the vehicle with her daughter, Mahek Bukhari, during a high-speed chase on the A46 in Leicester, leading to the deaths of Saqib Hussain and Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin, who were from Banbury, in February 2022.
Convicted of murder, Ansreen Bukhari received a minimum of 26 years and nine months in prison, a sentence her lawyers argued was "manifestly excessive."
Lord Justice Jeremy Baker, alongside Mr Justice Bryan and Judge Simon Hirst, stated, “The appellant had many opportunities to prevent the escalation of events leading to the deaths of the deceased.”
The appeal referenced claims that Bukhari had been targeted by blackmail from Mr Hussain, following an affair between the two.
Christopher Millington KC, representing Bukhari, told the court Mr Hussain's coercive behaviour pushed her into the situation.
He argued that Mr Hussain threatened to reveal compromising material if Bukhari did not end the relationship on his terms, leading to a campaign of pressure.
Daren Samat, the prosecutor, noted that while Ansreen Bukhari may not have initiated the plan, she played an essential role in the events leading to the deaths.
According to Samat, Mr Hussain was lured to Leicester with the promise of collecting his money there.
Ultimately, the appeal was refused as the court found that the reasons for the offences were properly considered in the initial sentencing.
Two other individuals were convicted of murder alongside the Bukharis, while three more were found guilty of manslaughter.