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A social media influencer who murdered her mother's lover and his companion in a fast-paced car chase has received her sentence reduced by the Court of Appeal.

Mahek Bukhari received a sentence for a least of over three decades in September 2023 for her involvement in the murders of Saqib Hussain and another victim, both 21, in February 2022.

However, on the end of the week the term was cut to 26 years and 285 days after judicial authorities agreed the sentence had not taken into account her youth.

An additional three people - members of the initial group jailed for the murders - have also had their sentences reduced.

Presenting a overview of the ruling in the courtroom, the presiding judge said: "The judge did not provide sufficient consideration for the fact that this appellant [the influencer] was an inexperienced 22-year-old at the moment of these crimes."

The court proceedings heard the killings followed efforts by Mahek's mother - Ansreen Bukhari - to break off her affair with the victim, who had warned to publish intimate content of her if she did not provide £3,000.

Prosecutors claimed Mr Hussain and his friend, residents of Oxfordshire, were "lured" to "one last meeting" with the Bukharis in a Tesco car park in the city, under the pretence of returning the money.

But the defendants and others ambushed the pair, chasing Mr Ijazuddin's Skoda along the A46 in the city in multiple cars, deliberately colliding with them from the roadway, the trial heard.

At the Appeals Court hearing in London on 17 October, the defense attorney had argued her youth and "lack of maturity" should have led to a reduced term.

Christopher Millington KC stated before the Bukharis chose to travel from their home near Stoke-on-Trent to Leicester, Saqib Hussain had warned to release the sexually explicit material he had of the mother.

However Lord Justice Warby said the defendant's response to the blackmail was "disproportionate" and it was "difficult to see any real link between any of Saqib's behaviour and the incidents on the highway that resulted in his death."

Despite this, he agreed Mahek's "young age and her acknowledged immaturity were given far too little weight", and should have "applied a substantial reducing effect on the minimum term."

Other Defendants Receive Sentence Reductions

The mother, another defendant and a third individual were also jailed for murder.

One co-defendant, another participant and a third person were jailed for unlawful killing. The first was given to 11 years and eight months, the second was given 14 years and eight months and the third was sentenced to similar duration in jail.

The judge, Mr Justice Lavender and the third official furthermore ruled the unlawful killing sentences assigned to the first, Gulamustafa and the third were too severe.

Watch: Police video shows the events leading up to the crash

The defendant's term was reduced to under 13 years, while Gulamustafa had his term reduced to 12 years and nine months and Akhtar's was lowered to nine years and eight months.

Lord Justice Warby added: "We believe indisputable that the vehicle pursuit carried a significant danger of death or severe injury and that this should have been apparent to all those in the vehicles."

But he continued that the "limited involvement played by every participant" should have had a "powerful downward impact" on the terms, and lowered every sentence by 24 months.

He said: "We believe, the judge made a mistake in determining the general consideration of negative factors and positive aspects.

"These terms for all these appellants were manifestly excessive. These punishments should definitely have been significantly reduced."