Leeds car crash: Teen driver who survived crash that killed five of his friends to be detained for four years

'I know what happened that night will shape your life every day from now on'

People hug as they look at floral tributes near the scene of a car crash in Stonegate Road, Leeds, that claimed the lives of five people, including three children ( Peter Byrne/PA Wire/PA Images)

A 15-year-old boy who survived after crashing a stolen car into a tree - killing five of his friends - has been detained for more than four years.

The vehicle “split in two” when it hit the tree at 88mph in a 30mph zone, Leeds Crown Court heard. Police said they arrived to “a scene of total carnage”.

Brothers Ellis Thornton-Kimmitt, 12,and Elliott Thornton-Kimmitt, 14, died in the collision along with 15-year-old Darnell Harte. Anthony Armour and Robbie Meerun, both 24, were also killed.

All of the passengers were thrown from the Renault Clio when it hit the tree, the court heard. Two of them were pronounced dead at the site, while three died later in hospital.

The vehicle had been stolen from the Headingley area of the city earlier that day, West Yorkshire Police said.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, admitted five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was sentenced to four-and-a-half-years’ detention and disqualified from driving for seven years and three months by Judge Peter Collier QC.

The justice told the teenager he would have faced a 13-and-a-half years in prison if he had been an adult.

“It was your driving of that car on that night which has caused all this pain and hurt,” the judge told the teenager. “I know what happened that night will shape your life every day from now on.

“I do not think there will ever be a time of day when you will not remember what happened and regret what you did.”

Outside the court Darnell Harte’s sister told reporters: “In two years’ time he’s going to be out and we’re going to have to see his face and not say anything because he’s served justice in some peoples eyes.

“To me that’s not justice, because I’m never going to see my little brother ever again. He was the best brother you could ever have.”

David Holderness from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This was a truly shocking crime in which five young people lost their lives.

“The defendant acted in a supremely dangerous way, driving erratically and at speeds of around 88mph in a residential area.

“Tragically, his victims paid the price of the driver’s utter irresponsibility with their lives.”