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Ten years for triple death driver Ten years for triple death driver
(about 2 hours later)
A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing the deaths of three teenagers who were passengers in his car which crashed into a tree. A 24-year-old motorist who killed three teenagers - one of whom was pregnant - and paralysed a fourth when he crashed at speed has been jailed for 10 years.
Rebecca Lee, 18, who was pregnant, her best friend Elin Rowlands, 15, and Clifford Thomas Jones, 17, all died in the crash on Anglesey, in February. Rebecca Lee, 18, triplet Elin Rowlands, 15, both of Bangor and Clifford Jones, 17, from Malltraeth, died in the crash at Menai Bridge, Anglesey in February.
Richard Brown, 24, had earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving. Richard Brown, from Newborough, Anglesey had admitted causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving.
He was also banned from driving for 12 years, at Caernarfon Crown Court. There were angry scenes at Caernarfon crown court as he was sentenced.
Front seat passenger Stacey Williams, 18, remains in hospital and is completely paralysed from the neck down. A woman had to be held back by a security guard as she tried to reach the secure dock from the public gallery.
Judge Nigel David told Brown: "This is one of the very worst cases of this kind one can imagine."
Rebecca Lee, Ellie Chambers and Clifford Jones were killedRebecca Lee, Ellie Chambers and Clifford Jones were killed
Judge Mr Justice Nigel Davis said it was one of the worse cases one could imagine and that Brown did not care about how he drove. The three teenagers who died, including Rebecca Lee who was 14 weeks pregnant, were in the back of Brown's Citroen C2 VTS when he lost control and hit a tree on the A5 at Menai Bridge.
The court heard that the vehicle was travelling at 80-90 mph when it crashed in a 30 mph zone. Prosecutor Ian Evans said they were thrown out of the back of the car when the boot flew open and killed instantly.
Brown has admitted being almost twice the drink-drive limit and having taken drugs before he crashed his Citreon C2 car. A fourth teenager, Stacey Williams, 18, from Bangor, who was a front seat passenger, is still in hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries and is tetraplegic.
Mr Evans said: "The prognosis isn't good. She will remain paralysed and be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life."
The prosecutor said witnesses saw Brown pass them at an estimated 80 to 90mph in a 60mph zone just before the Citroen went out of control, knocking down two trees in its path.
Drug dependency
The scene was described as one of horror and carnage. One man said the impact was like the noise of a bomb explosion.
Brown was also banned from driving for 12 years and told he must take an extended test before he drives again.
The court heard Brown, who walked with a limp and on crutches after a previous car crash, suffered from epilepsy and was being treated for drug dependency.
But he had not told the DVLA which could have refused or placed conditions on his driving licence.
The court heard he had bough a "hot hatch" car and tests showed Brown was almost twice the alcohol limit and had taken cocaine, diazepam, cannabis and methadone.
Recklessly indifferent
In September 2006, Brown was involved in a single vehicle crash in Anglesey when he suffered life-threatening injuries. Police took no action because of his injuries.
But Brown received a formal warning for careless driving after another collision while overtaking a vehicle towing a trailer in March 2008.
In February 2008 he was caught doing 43mph in a 30mph limit and was given a fixed penalty ticket and three points.
Defence barrister Rhys Rowlands said Brown recognised there were "a great many aggravating features" and said there was "a measure of real contrition here".
However, the judge said: "He was recklessly indifferent. He didn't care".
The judge told Brown: "I can only assume what you were doing is bravado of showing off to the people in the car."