TWO brothers have been found guilty of causing the death of a well-known dad and rugby coach from Powys after their ‘reckless’ race ended in a head-on collision.

Abubakr Yusaf and Umar Yusaf denied that the manner of their driving was responsible for the death of Rhys Jenkins, and the serious injury of his son, however the strength of evidence gathered by Dyfed-Powys Police proved the brothers were to blame.

In an eight-day trial, Mold Crown Court heard how Abubakr, 30 and Umar, 34 were driving home from Aberystwyth to Manchester in separate cars when they started to race one another.

Witnesses said they had seen the brothers complete highly dangerous overtakes along the stretch of road, driving at excessive speed, tailgating, and flashing their headlights at other cars in an attempt to get past.

Shortly after both brothers took a bend in the road on the wrong side of the carriageway, Abubakr’s BMW collided head-on with a Toyota being driven by Rhys Jenkins on the Belan straight. 

As other drivers stopped to help the dad and his son, both the brothers fled the scene in Umar’s Audi S4.

Emergency services attended, and Mr Jenkins was tragically confirmed to have died from catastrophic injuries. His nine-year-old son, who had been a passenger in the car, was air lifted to hospital, where he spent 10 days being treated for his injuries.

Within 40 minutes of the collision, 34-year-old Umar Yusaf drove back to the scene and told a PCSO the person responsible was with him.

The brothers were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and an investigation was launched by Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

Statements from a number of witnesses described the brothers’ manner of driving as ‘reckless’, ‘erratic’, and consistent with racing.  It was determined that while Umar’s car was not directly involved in the collision, the ‘competitive’ nature of his driving with his brother contributed significantly to the fatal incident.

The brothers were charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and failing to stop after a road traffic collision.

Abubakr Yusaf was also charged with causing death while uninsured, drug driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

Abubakr Yusaf was today found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing death whilst uninsured.

Umar Yusaf was found guilty of causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving.

They will be sentenced on Monday 27 July 2026.

Speaking about the impact of Mr Jenkins’ death on his family, PS Sara John from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “The tragic and wholly preventable death of Rhys Jenkins has caused his two young boys and wife to suffer immeasurable grief.

“Today’s verdict has proven that Abubakr and Umar Yusaf are directly responsible for causing the death of Mr Jenkins, seriously injuring his young son and bringing complete devastation to their family. 

“Both defendants have denied responsibility from the outset, despite overwhelming evidence that they were racing each other in a highly dangerous manner.

“Our investigation has been intensive and thorough, and I would like to thank the members of the public at the scene, and those who came forward with information to support the investigation and court proceedings that followed. Their input was paramount to the guilty verdict delivered today.

“I’d also like to thank all the officers and staff involved for their dedication to the case and ultimately securing this result. 

“More importantly, I would like to commend the bravery and dignity shown by Rhys’s family during our enquiries and the criminal justice process – the strength they have shown having to sit through the trial listening to the evidence can only be described as extraordinary.”

Rhys’s wife, Carrie Jenkins, said: “Following the conviction, I would like to thank the court, the jury, the CPS, police and all those involved in this trial, including the many witnesses who came forward.

“The loss of Rhys in such an unexpected and unnecessary way has been devastating, but our focus as a family has been to rebuild our lives, and to make the most of each day, as Rhys would have wanted, with the support of our friends and community. 

“I hope the publicity surrounding the Crown Court case highlights to others the dangers of driving at speed, and acts as a reminder that we all have a responsibility when we get behind a wheel.”  

Joanne Brine, solicitor for Carrie Jenkins said: “This has been an unimaginably distressing time for Mrs Jenkins, coping with a life-changing situation which she has handled with courage and grace as she, her children and their wider family have come to terms with the devasting loss of a much-loved husband and father,

“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 lead to Rhys’ untimely death.”

A MAN has been sent to Crown Court accused of six rapes, including an alleged offence at a Haverfordwest campsite.

Michael Harris, 37, of Bow Street Village, appeared before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 10).

Harris is charged with six offences of rape of a woman aged 16 or over, contrary to section one of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The alleged offences are said to have taken place between 2015 and 2025 at locations including Perthog, Bow Street, and the Rising Sun Campsite in Haverfordwest.

No pleas were entered during the hearing.

Harris was sent to Swansea Crown Court, where he is due to appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Friday, July 10.

He was remanded on conditional bail.

The court imposed conditions including that Harris must not enter specified addresses in the Aberystwyth and Bow Street areas, and must not contact named individuals directly or indirectly, including through social media.

The case was sent to the Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The complainant in the case has automatic lifetime anonymity under the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992.

Hartt family members listed at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court over unpaid penalties linked to major cattle prosecution

TWO PEMBROKESHIRE farmers convicted in a major bovine tuberculosis-related cattle case are due back before the courts this week over unpaid financial penalties.

Henry Hartt, 66, of Ciffig, Whitland, and Edward William Henry Hartt, 48, of Llandewi Velfrey, are both listed to appear at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (June 11).

Court records show both men face proceedings relating to the non-payment of fines of £94,739.64 imposed on March 4, 2024. Separate applications to lodge committal warrants are also listed, relating to unpaid fines of £22,300 and £22,400 respectively.

The pair were among three members of the Hartt family sentenced at Swansea Crown Court in March 2024 following a major prosecution brought by Pembrokeshire County Council involving bovine TB controls.

The court heard that cattle known to have reacted to bovine tuberculosis tests were knowingly kept on-farm, while substitute animals were allegedly presented for slaughter instead.

At the time, Henry Hartt, Edward Hartt and Charles Hartt admitted a total of 12 cattle identification offences connected to Longford Farm, Clynderwen.

The case centred on failures to comply with bovine TB restrictions and cattle tracing rules designed to prevent the spread of the disease.

Each defendant was fined £24,000, while confiscation orders and prosecution costs running into hundreds of thousands of pounds were also imposed.

Thursday’s hearing is expected to deal with enforcement proceedings connected to the unpaid financial orders rather than the original criminal offences.

The Herald will be attending court.