Murder arrest after death of Leeds delivery driver

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a delivery driver was killed in Wortley, 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.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed a 32-year-old man had been arrested and remained in custody.

Meanwhile, colleagues at SP Transport Group, which employed Mr Kondor, have set up a fundraiser for his family which has raised over £9,000.

Mr Kondor was described as a “beloved colleague and confidant” by the company.

Police said Mr Kondor died after the suspect drove the Ford Transit away with the courier “partly inside” the passenger door, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Officers were called to Heights Drive 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.

After a struggle, he was left lying in the road when the vehicle collided with two parked cars.

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

Mike Neill, operations manager of SP Transport Group, wrote the “unimaginable loss” had left everyone “devastated”.

“Claudiu was a dedicated and cherished member of the SP Transport Group family who tragically lost his life on 20 August 2024 during a struggle that occurred in the midst of a van theft,” he said.

“Claudiu was more than just a colleague – he was a friend, a confidant and a valued member of our team.

“His commitment to his work and the camaraderie he brought to the workplace will never be forgotten.”

Mr Neill added that Mr Kondor’s death extended “far beyond the workplace” and would affect all who knew him.