THE parents of a nine-year-old girl, killed after two young drivers raced through an East Lancashire town, say her loss is like a “knife through their hearts”.

Mumtaz Ali and Sofia Begum spoke out as Adil Manir and Mohsen Saddique begin four-year custodial terms following the death of “happy, bubbly and caring” Aleena Kausar, in Rawtenstall, 15 months ago.

Manir’s Audi A5 mounted a footpath in Bacup Road, killing Aleena and also injuring Mrs Begum, as the pair walked to a nearby mosque with a relative, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Shortly before Manir’s car had been tailgated by his friend Saddique’s VW Golf – at speeds of around 55mph on the 30mph road – heading out of the town centre.

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An eyewitness leaving Rossendale Health Centre described their driving as “crazy”, the court heard.

Prosecutor Jeremy Grout-Smith told an earlier trial hearing the girl’s uncle, Shiraz Ali, had offered Mrs Begum and the youngster a lift in his Vauxhall Zafira taxi, which was declined.

His Zafira pulled away from the kerb shortly before the Audi, coming in the opposite direction, overtook a Vauxhall Corsa. Manir lost control of his car, clipped a kerb and mounted the pavement, hitting Aleena and her mother.

Manir, now 20, formerly of Beech Street, Rawtenstall, but now of Keighley, admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Ex-Haslingden High student Saddique, formerly of Wheatholme Street, Rawtenstall, but now also of Keighley, denied the same charge but was convicted after a trial.

Passing sentence, Judge Jonathan Gibson said: “Nothing that I can say or do can adequately reflect the pain of Aleena’s family, which was evident in the personal statement made by her father.”

Mr Ali said the death of their little girl had affected many people and people who they barely knew had shared their condolences.

“The effect that she had on so many people’s lives made us proud,” he added.

“But it is like a knife through our hearts because it reminds us of what we have lost.”

Manir was banned from driving for seven years and Saddique was disqualified for five years and both must take extended retests before being allowed back behind the wheel.

The court heard that the case had caused heartache for the close-knit Asian community in the town. The families on both sides of the case were distantly related.

Andrew Dallas, for Manir, said: “The most important thing that he wishes me to say through me is to express his utter remorse for his actions that afternoon.”

Mohameed Nadim, for Saddique, said his client was the first to alert the emergency services, when he pulled up in his Golf shortly after the fatal crash.

The court heard Manir was a university graduate and part-time taxi driver, to support his studies, before the incident. Saddique was also a taxi driver and had an “exemplary” driving record.

Speaking after the case, Mr Ali and Mrs Begum said: “We know nothing will bring Aleena back to us and nothing will ease the pain. However we are satisfied with the sentence imposed by the judge and hope that this will have some kind of deterrent effect on other drivers so that other families do not have to go through what we are going through.”