A man, who drove under the influence of drugs, was sentenced to six years in prison for killing his own brother and a lady he was trying to impress when he smashed into a tree.
Jordon White, who is 20 years old, fled the scene and afterwards attempted to blame his 23 years old brother Reece, who died on January 18 in the back seat of the black Corsa in Tebworth, Bedfordshire.
He was driving while above the limit and without a license when he lost control of his vehicle after diverting lanes to overtake an Audi.
Ellie Ogden-Cooper, who is 19 years old White’s ex-girlfriend, was also killed in the accident after being flung out of the automobile and landing in a field.
Serious injuries were sustained by a 21-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy who were in the front and back seat respectively.
White, of Leighton Buzzard’s Wallis Drive, appeared in St Albans crown court for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Ellie’s mother stated her daughter, who worked as a carer, had a bright future ahead of her.
She added that ‘As a family we will never get over losing our beautiful Ellie. We are in pieces. Our precious memories are all that we have.’
Reece’s family said, ‘We are devastated at the loss of Reece. He was a much-loved son, brother and grandson.
‘He made an impression on everyone he met and leaves a hole in the family that will never be filled. He will be missed forever.’
The Audi driver reported that ‘The car was shifting when it overtook me. He started to lose control. I could see it swaying across the road.’
He added, ‘I think it spun and went up in the air. It almost seemed to jump and went down the verge on the opposite side of road. Bits of the car were falling off.’
Mr Arnold and another driver, Stephen Hewitt, will each get a £500 High Sheriff’s reward for stopping and trying to help Reece White in the vehicle.
Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann stated, ‘This defendant was driving a car withfour other people in it. It overtook another car at speed, crossing double white lines on the crest of a hill. It was an appalling piece of driving.
‘He was unlicensed and over the drug-drive limit. Warnings about his driving had been disregarded. He was uninsured and had no MOT. He ran from his friends and his brother, leaving others to help.’
Darryl Cherrett, who was defending White, claims that he has been in care since he was 12 years old, that he is immature, and that he may have ADHD.
Jailing him, Judge Michael Kay QC said, ’You will spend a considerable period of time in custody and you will reflect on what you have done.
‘If you have an ounce of decency, you will change your life.’
White, in addition to his jail term, was given a nine-year driving ban.