A 21-year-old woman who filmed herself speeding killed two people in a crash just three weeks after passing her driving test.
Taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger Moyra Whelan died after being his by Liberty Mitchell, who was travelling at 96mph in a 60mph zone in December 2022.
Mitchell, from Chipping Norton, who had recently turned 18 at the time of the incident, attempted to overtake three vehicles at once before trying to abort the manoeuvre and hitting the taxi.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving whilst uninsured.
At Gloucester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Rupert Lowe sentenced Mitchell, who wept openly in the dock, to six years and eight months in prison.
The crash, which involved Mitchell’s grey Mini Cooper, a black Audi A3, a grey Polestar 2 and a black Seat Leon, happened at around 12.45pm on the B4425 near Aldsworth in Gloucestershire.
Mr Codreanu and his passenger, school teacher Moyra Whelan, who was on her way to a wedding, died in the crash.
Mitchell also pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger Moyra Whelan died after being his by Liberty Mitchell (pictured), who was travelling at 96mph in a 60mph zone in December 2022.
Mitchell filmed herself speeding before killing two people in a crash just three weeks after passing her driving test.
At Gloucester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Rupert Lowe sentenced Mitchell, who wept openly in the dock, to six years and eight months in prison
The court heard injuries suffered by those in the crash included a fractured hip, broken ribs, severe abdominal wounds and shattered bones protruding through the skin.
Nicola Cooper, one of the passengers in the taxi, said: ‘The crash itself was traumatic, the impact felt endless.
‘I live with survivor’s guilt and the trauma of losing one of my closest friends, Moyra, who was sitting just inches from me.
‘I lie awake at night thinking about the ‘what ifs’.’
Katy-Louise Whelan, Ms Whelan’s younger sister, said: ‘She had so much left that she wanted to experience… but the opportunity was stolen from her and we are devastated.
‘I’m still absolutely incredulous that she is not with us any more.
‘It’s like the light of the world is dimmed and we will never be able to turn it back on again.
‘One aspect that haunts me is that my sister died violently… I’m truly devastated that my beautiful, innocent sister was subjected to that.’
The crash, which involved Mitchell’s grey Mini Cooper, a black Audi A3, a grey Polestar 2 and a black Seat Leon, happened at around 12.45pm on the B4425 near Aldsworth in Gloucestershire
Mitchell, from Chipping Norton, who had recently turned 18 at the time of the incident, attempted to overtake three vehicles at once before trying to abort the manoeuvre and hitting the taxi
Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving whilst uninsured
Simon Stirling, defending, suggested Mitchell’s actions were a result of ‘inexperience rather than irresponsibility’.
He said Mitchell had only recently passed her driving test and would not have understood the risk of the manoeuvre she was attempting.
Judge Lowe said: ‘At the time of this collision, you had held a full driving licence for less than three weeks.
‘You were, at the time, a reckless and immature young driver suffering from the, frankly common, teenage delusion that you were invulnerable and free to do as you wished.
‘The lives of all the victims and their families have been irrevocably changed.’
Mitchell was sentenced to six years and eight months in jail and must serve half of this term in custody before being eligible for release on licence.
As well as being jailed, Mitchell was disqualified from driving for eight years and four months and will have to undertake an extended driving test to regain her licence.