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Alexander Walters' sentence upheld over cyclists' deaths Alexander Walters' sentence upheld over cyclists' deaths
(about 4 hours later)
A convicted bomb hoaxer and fraudster who killed two cyclists while driving a stolen car has had his sentence upheld at the Court of Appeal.A convicted bomb hoaxer and fraudster who killed two cyclists while driving a stolen car has had his sentence upheld at the Court of Appeal.
Alexander Walters, 31, struck John Morland, 30, and Kris Jarvis, 39, in Purley Rise, Purley-on-Thames, on 13 February while almost two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit. Alexander Walters, 31, struck John Morland, 30, and Kris Jarvis, 39, in Purley Rise, Purley-on-Thames, on 13 February while almost two-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit.
He was sentenced to 10 years and three months.He was sentenced to 10 years and three months.
His previous convictions include one for a bomb hoax after the 9/11 attacks.His previous convictions include one for a bomb hoax after the 9/11 attacks.
Walters, of Beech Road, Purley, pleaded guilty to a total of seven offences at Reading Crown Court in April, where he was convicted of dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. 'Utter devastation'
Other offences included driving while disqualified and driving while uninsured. Walters, from Purley, pleaded guilty to a total of seven offences at Reading Crown Court in April, including dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle-taking.
He was sentenced to 12 months for each of the other offences to run concurrently. He was driving a stolen BMW at about 70mph (112kph) in a 30mph (48kph) zone when he lost control and hit the two cyclists.
He was driving a stolen BMW at about 70mph (112kph) in a 30mph (48kph) zone when he lost control and hit the two cyclists. He then hit a lamp post. Appealing for a reduction in his sentence, his barrister James House said: "There's nothing that's attractive about this appeal. His selfish actions caused utter devastation.
Both men died at the scene. "There's little more a man can do than come to the court and say what he did. It's important in that case, he should get the one third credit he deserves."
Tests showed, as well as being over the drink-drive limit, he had also taken cocaine within the previous 24 hours. But Mr Justice Globe rejected the sentence appeal and backed the decision of the trial judge.
Outside the court, a spokesman for the families of the cyclists said: "They were satisfied with today's outcome, but would rather not have had to come to court at all."
Walters, previously from Cardiff, is a Russian-born orphan adopted by a Welsh vicar when he was 17.Walters, previously from Cardiff, is a Russian-born orphan adopted by a Welsh vicar when he was 17.
In 2001 he was sentenced to two years custody after phoning a bomb hoax to Heathrow Airport just days after the 11 September terror attacks on the United States. In 2001 he was sentenced to two years custody after phoning a bomb hoax to Heathrow Airport days after the 11 September terror attacks.
In 2003 he was jailed for six months after duping several airlines in a plot that mirrored the film Catch Me If You Can, for using a chequebook from his failed company to buy flights to destinations including the United States, Johannesburg and Sydney. He has a string of other convictions, including for fraud, and had been disqualified from driving for four years in 2010.
Reading Crown Court heard he had appeared in court on 14 occasions over 67 offences. He had been disqualified from driving for four years in 2010.