Wannabe ‘big man’ boy racer in BMW filmed himself driving at 123mph before killing Frankie Hough and unborn child

A ‘big man’ boy racer in a BMW filmed himself hitting speeds of 123mph and weaving in and out of lanes on a motorway before tragically killing Frankie Hough and her unborn child.^[1]

Adil Iqbal, 22, filmed himself with his mobile phone in one hand and the steering wheel in the other, driving ‘erratically’ as he crossed lanes and narrowly missed a number of other cars at high speed on the M66.

But just moments later, his cocky stunt spiralled into tragedy^[2] when he undertook a motorbike in the fast lane and then ‘lost control’, hitting railings and ploughing into the car of former Hollyoaks star Frankie Hough – at a staggering 92mph.

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The 38-year-old, from Chadderton, who was with her son Tommy, nine, Rocky, two, and nephew Tobias, aged four, and was 17-weeks pregnant at the time. She had pulled over onto the hard shoulder in Bury after her Skoda had a flat tyre.

Actress Frankie Hough, 38, tragically lost her life after the crash (Image: MEN Media)

As Frankie made a call to say she’d be late, she let out a ‘blood curdling scream’ as Iqbal’s BMW spun round and smashed into her car, leaving her and the three young children all trapped inside the vehicle. They were all unconscious apart from her two-year-old son who was desperately crying out for his mother.

Frankie was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries and the three children were also taken to hospital, two of whom suffered serious injuries and one with minor injuries. The mum tragically died in hospital a few days later as a result of her injuries.

From left to right: Tobias, Rocky, Frankie and Tommy who were all injured in the crash (Image: PA)

Iqbal was arrested by police at the scene and later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving; and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He wept throughout an emotional sentencing hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday (July 19), and was jailed for 12 years.

Judge Maurice Greene said of Frankie, an actress who previously appeared in Hollyoaks: “She was killed as a result of the most indescribably reckless driving by you, Adil Iqbal, leading to the devastation of a family.”

However, the court heard that Iqbal had previously had his driving licence revoked in 2020 after being found behind the wheel without insurance. Four months after passing a re-test, he then posted a video on Facebook of him in Dubai driving a Lamborghini on a public road, using ‘hard acceleration’ and reaching ‘high speed’.

Adil Iqbal (Image: Facebook)

Two months prior to the fatal collision, Iqbal was spotted by police ‘racing’ with another car in Lancashire while driving a VW Golf. Both cars were stopped and the drivers were warned their cars could be seized if they were pulled over again for ‘bad driving’.

And after being arrested following the fatal crash, Iqbal was arrested and replied ‘no comment’ to questions asked by officers. He then refused to tell police his phone PIN code, but they later cracked the device and discovered the video he had taken of himself before the crash.

Frankie’s heartbroken dad claimed that Iqbal was ‘part of a network of young men who get a thrill out of this kind of behaviour’. “Our worlds have been torn apart, and for what?,” Frank Hough said, fighting back tears and directly addressing Iqbal.

Adil Iqbal has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars (Image: Greater Manchester Police)

“So this boy could try and make himself feel like a big man?” He added: “I am left full of guilt because I haven’t managed to keep her beautiful children together, and all because a young man wanted to show off, wanted to show his friends on social media how daring and cool he thought he was.”

Iqbal, of Hope Street, Accrington, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and issued a further disqualification from driving for 13 years. He must serve two-thirds of his 12 year sentence in prison.

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References

1. ^{^} before tragically killing Frankie Hough and her unborn child. (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^{^} his cocky stunt spiralled into tragedy (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^{^} by clicking here (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^{^} by clicking here (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)