A man who was jailed as a teenager for his part in the racist murder of a Huddersfield taxi driver had his prison time slashed by a top judge today.

Steven Gary Utley was one of a gang of four white youths who were caged for the brutal killing of 41-year-old Mohammed Parvaiz in July 2006.

Mr Parvaiz was lured in his taxi to Field Head, Golcar, and subjected to a horrendous assault with fists, feet and weapons.

Christopher Murphy, 18 at the time of the murder, Michael Hand, 19, and Graeme Slavin, 17, were all sent down for murder.

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Utley, then 17, was also found guilty of murder at Leeds Crown Court in 2007 and jailed for at least 17 years.

But his earliest release date was today brought forward to December 2022 when Mr Justice Goss slashed his minimum jail term to only 15 years.

Giving judgment at the Royal Courts of Justice, he said Utley, formerly of Elmfield Avenue, Golcar, had made great progress behind bars.

Taxi driver Mohammad Parvaiz with his son
Taxi driver Mohammad Parvaiz with his son

It not only involved him behaving well, but doing ‘everything within his power’ to turn his life around since being sent down.

At the time of the killing, he had been a teenager who thought he knew best and could do what he wanted, he said.

He had been placed in accommodation with like-minded youngsters and became involved in drinking and taking drugs.

The killing was an act of revenge after a scooter belonging to one of Utley’s friends was damaged by Asian men carried in Mr Parvaiz’ taxi.

Police photograph of Mohammad Parvaiz's taxi shattered by stones
Police photograph of Mohammad Parvaiz's taxi shattered by stones

However, Mr Parvaiz himself was a ‘wholly innocent victim’, said the judge.

His death had an enormous impact on his family and the local community, leading to a strike by safety-conscious taxi drivers.

Despite his bad start in life, Utley had used his time in custody well from the minute he was put behind bars, Mr Justice Goss continued.

He had taken over 50 courses, worked as a kitchen orderly and given a job helping less able prisoners with every aspect of their lives in prison.

Staff who had assessed him were unanimous in describing his progress as excellent, said the judge.

One said Utley was desperate for people to see him as the man he is today, rather than define him by his past.

Mohammad Parvaiz with wife Naheed

The judge continued: ‘He has an exemplary work and disciplinary record, demonstrated genuine remorse, accepted an appropriate level of responsibility for his offending, built and maintained successful relationships with fellow prisoners and staff and successfully engaged in work, education and offence-related courses.

‘He has shown himself to be trustworthy.

‘This attitude and behaviour has been sustained over a prolonged period of over eight years and in both of the institutions in which he has been held.

‘In all these respects, he has demonstrated exceptional progress over a sustained period.

‘He is clearly remorseful and taking every opportunity to rehabilitate himself.’

He reduced Utley’s minimum term to 15 years.