Driver who killed Dagenham teen jailed for five years
Elliott Antwi from Dagenham was jailed for five years - Credit: Archant
A banned driver who killed his friend and left another with serious brain injuries has been jailed for five years.
Charlie Gunner - Credit: Archant
Elliott Antwi, 21, of Mayfield Road, Dagenham, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court this morning.
Tributes to Charlie Gunner left at the scene of the crash in Dagenham - Credit: Archant
His friend Charlie Gunner, 18, died from the crash on August 27 last year while Jack Reilly, now 17, was left in a coma but survived.
Tributes to Charlie Gunner left at the scene of the crash in Dagenham - Credit: Archant
Previously the court heard how he crashed his Audi A3 in to a lamppost after being spooked by a passing police car. He fled the scene and was arrested when he retuned home almost a month later.
Antwi, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving, had been disqualified from driving since the age of 14, had never passed a driving test and had no insurance.
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As well as past motoring offences he also had several previous convictions including burglary, handling stolen goods, threatening behaviour, violence and assaulting a police officer.
In his closing remarks, Judge Martyn Zeidman QC said: “Whatever sentence is imposed on you, the reality is that you have imposed a life sentence of misery on the family of Charlie Gunner and a life of worry, pain and upset for Jack Reilly and his loving family.
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“There is nothing that I can say that can retrieve the tragic loss of Charlie’s life or bring Jack back into good health.
“It was a huge arrogance of you to drive when you knew you weren’t up to it. You had not passed your test, to make it worse you were disqualified and to make it even worse you were on a suspended sentence.
“If you had obeyed the law this whole tragic incident would not have occurred.”
Antwi, who pleaded guilty on February 4, was sentenced to four years and three months for the charge of death by dangerous driving and a further nine months for breaching a previous suspended sentence for burglary.
He was also disqualified for driving for seven years.
