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.
Elliott Antwi, 21, of Mayfield Road, Dagenham, was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court this morning.
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.
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.
You may also want to watch:
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.
Most Read
- 1 Is the Becontree estate in Barking and Dagenham really a Covid hotspot?
- 2 Hundreds of shops found not complying with Covid rules
- 3 Town hall backs Dagenham freeport bid
- 4 Covid deaths increase at Queen's and King George hospitals this week
- 5 NHS nurse assaulted at east London hospital
- 6 One in 20 may have had Covid-19 last week in Redbridge, Newham and Barking and Dagenham, figures suggest
- 7 Man recalled to prison after persistent anti-social behaviour in Dagenham cul de sac
- 8 Town hall seeks powers to prevent 'unsightly' loft extensions
- 9 Organisers seek former Mayesbrook teachers to join school reunion
- 10 Dagenham rallies round to make memories for family of 'joyful, little' tot with cancer
“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.