Man charged with Leeds delivery driver’s murder

A man has been charged with murder following the death of a delivery driver in a “vanjacking” incident in Leeds.

Claudiu-Carol Kondor, 42, from Sheffield, died as he tried to stop a thief stealing his van when out delivering parcels on Tuesday evening.

Mark Ross, 32, of Conference Road in Armley, is due before Leeds magistrates later.

A 24-year-old man, who was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of murder, remained in custody, West Yorkshire Police said.

A woman who was arrested at the same time on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released under investigation.

Officers were called to Heights Drive in Wortley at about 18:50 BST on Tuesday, to reports of a seriously injured man in the road.

Mr Kondor was thought to have been delivering Amazon parcels in the area, for a third-party contractor, when his van was targeted by a thief in Alliance Street.

When he tried to stop them, police said they “drove off at speed” with the victim only partly in the passenger door of the vehicle.

Mr Kondor was left lying in the road when the van collided with two parked cars.

He was given emergency treatment by ambulance staff but was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

The victim was described as a “beloved colleague and confidant” by his company, SP Transport Group.

A fundraiser for his family, organised by the firm, has now topped £20,000.

Operations manager Mike Neill said: “While no amount of money can fill the void left by Claudiu’s passing, we hope to provide some comfort and support to his loved ones.”

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