County Durham teenager admits causing death of young woman

Charlie Whittaker also pleaded guilty to seriously injuring three other teenage passengers when the blue Ford Fiesta left the road and rolled over.

Eighteen-year-old Abbie Devanney, from Consett, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency services were called at 10pm on Saturday, October 21, 2023, to a one-vehicle collision on Brooms Lane, near Leadgate, County Durham.

Floral tributes were placed on Broom Lane in memory of Abbie Devanney (Image: Gavin Havery)

The road was closed for several hours while collision investigators worked at the scene.

Whittaker, who was 17 at the time of the fatal accident, appeared at Teesside Crown Court to enter his pleas.

The 19-year-old, of Hangingstone Lane, Stanley, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and three charges of causing serious injury due to dangerous driving during the short hearing.

Abbie Devanney (Image: Contributor)

Judge Jonathan Carroll warned the teenager he was facing an inevitable prison sentence as he released him on bail to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

“You have pleaded guilty to the four counts on this indictment, you don’t need me to tell you just how serious they are,” he said.

“They are about as serious as they could be. I will grant a pre-sentence report for you baring in mind your age at the time and as you have no previous convictions.

“I do so strictly so that you understand that only a custodial sentence will follow for this level of offending, so you must prepare yourself on that footing.”

Note left by a friend of Abbie Devanney at the scene (Image: Gavin Havery)

In a statement released her family at the time, they said: “Abbie was a much-loved daughter, sister and granddaughter and will be sadly missed. We wish to thank everyone for their support and ask to be left so that we are able to grieve in peace.”

See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

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Flowers and moving tributes have been left at the side of the winding country road where the tragic incident happened.

In a moving and emotional letter, one of Abbie’s friends wrote: “I'm so sorry this has happened to you.

“I can't even put into words how much I love and miss you, how happy we were celebrating your birthday.”

Whittaker, who was issued with an interim driving ban, will be sentenced at the same court on April 16.