A YOUNG driver who caused the death of his girlfriend after hitting a lorry at speed in his souped-up Skoda has been jailed.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Cameron Holdsworth had been ‘showing off’ and driving dangerously prior to the crash that killed Hannah Inman.

The court was told Holdsworth and Hannah were members of Total Chaos car club and had been to a meet in Whitley Bay before heading to Blyth for a race.

Witnesses told police Holdsworth, 24, from Sycamore Road, Fishburn, had driving fast and spinning the modified Fabia in circles earlier in the evening.

Read more: Durham student describes terror as she is caught up in Ukraine invasion

Hannah, 21, who was in a relationship with Holdsworth and was his passenger, died after the collision on Coniston Road in Blyth on October 1, 2019.

The Northern Echo: Hannah Inman Hannah Inman

An investigation found he was travelling at nearly twice the legal speed limit in the moments prior to the collision.

He appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for seven years.

Judge Christopher Prince said: “No sentence any court can pass in a case such as this can ever reflect the tragedy in this case.

“You drove from a car park in Whitley Bay where you had been showing off in your vehicle to an industrial estate in Blyth.

“You drove to that industrial estate with sole intention of driving your adapted car at speed along the roads of the industrial estate.

“You then, knowing that there was corner, drove straight across it at speed to impress your friend who were waiting on the other side.

“You drove at nearly twice the speed fully aware that there might be a vehicle come around that corner.

“That risk did not pay off. As you went across, the lorry came around and you struck it.

“This was not just a deliberate decision or flagrant disregard for the rules of the road, and an apparent disregard for the great danger it caused to others, this was premeditated offence of that type.

“You decided to drive in that way because that is what you enjoyed doing.

“You enjoyed driving at speed. You enjoyed showing off to people.” In mitigation, Steven Reed said Holdsworth’s actions will have a massive psychological impact on him.

He said the couple had been together four-and-a-half years and planned to have children.

Mr Reed said: “This has had a devastating impact on him and will for the rest of his life.

"He described Hannah as the love of his life. He has genuine remorse."

In a victim impact statement, Stephanie White, hannah’s mother asked for leniency for Holdsworth.

Stephanie said: "Her love of the car scene did worry me but she was an adult and the car scene brought so much joy to her and was a big part of her life and also Cameron's."

She said: "A part of me died" the night she lost her "beautiful, funny, kind, caring, bubbly girl" and that her life will never be the same and the "pain in my heart never stops and I would give anything just to hold her one more time".

Sergeant Dave Roberts, of Northumbria Police, condemned Holdsworth’s dangerous actions behind the wheel and says the incident should act as a serious reminder of the potential consequences of driving irresponsibly and at excess speed.

Sgt Roberts said: “No sentence today could have taken away the pain and anguish that Hannah’s family have felt ever since this terrible incident.

“A young woman with everything to live for needlessly lost her life and had her future taken away from her.

“Our thoughts remain with Hannah’s family and friends as they attempt to come to terms with their devastating loss.

“Our investigation proved that Holdsworth was driving at up to 56mph in a 30mph limit in the moments before the crash, and his car had gone onto the wrong side of the road before it collided with the heavy goods vehicle.

“We also discovered a significant amount of modifications to the vehicle he drove.

“These modifications disabled safety systems and were made to make the vehicle faster.

“His decisions that night have destroyed more than one family and have had irreversible consequences.”

Sgt Roberts added: “I sincerely hope this case acts as a reminder to everybody that our roads are not a race track and the laws are there for a reason – to protect all road users.

“If you take the law into your own hands while behind the wheel of a car, your actions could lead to serious or fatal injury – and lead to a full and robust police investigation."

Holdsworth now begins a custodial term. He was also handed a five-year driving disqualification.

Hannah’s heartbroken family have released a statement paying tribute to their “shining star” who will always be “missed and loved by many”.

The family said: “Hannah, our gorgeous girl. You left us without warning, not even a goodbye.

“We didn’t see this coming, it hit us by surprise and when you left a part of us died.

“You are our shining star, bright and beautiful. Your smile and infectious laugh would brighten anyone’s day.

“You will always be missed and loved by many. Every day for the rest of our lives, we will be loving and missing you – rest in peace, sleep tight my baby girl.”

---

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054