New driver who killed two people in 100mph crash has sentence increased

A cleaner who filmed Snapchat videos of herself driving at nearly 100mph before a crash that left two people dead has had her prison sentence increased by nearly three years.

Liberty Mitchell, 21, had only passed her test weeks before killing taxi driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger Moyra Whelan in December 2022.

She was driving at nearly 100mph in a 60mph zone while trying to overtake three other cars on the wrong side of the road but clipped one of them, causing a pile-up.

Mitchell cried in the dock at Gloucester Crown Court as she was jailed for six years and eight months in February.

But the Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP referred her case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

Senior judges have now increased Mitchell’s sentence to nine years and three months.

Ms Reeves said: ‘Liberty Mitchell’s reckless actions behind the wheel claimed the lives of two people and left many others with life-changing injuries.

‘My deepest sympathies go to the loved ones of Octavian Codreanu and Moyra Whelan, and to all those whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy. 

‘The offender had previously filmed herself speeding and shared it on social media, showing disregard for the danger she posed to others.

‘I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase her sentence, and I pay tribute to the emergency services who treated the injured at the scene.’

Mitchell’s sentencing hearing was told she was working as a cleaner at the time of the fatal crash and had been travelling between holiday cottages in the area.

She had swung her Mini Cooper out to try and overtake three other vehicles at once, before aborting the manoeuvre and hitting the taxi.

Mr Codreanu and his passenger, school teacher Moyra Whelan, who was on her way to a wedding, died in the collision.

Mitchell was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and two counts of causing death by driving whilst uninsured, due to her car insurance not including use of the vehicle for work purposes.

She pleaded guilty to all charges.

The court heard injuries suffered by those in the crash included a fractured hip, broken ribs, severe abdominal wounds and shattered bones protruding through the skin.

Nicola Cooper, one of the passengers in the taxi, said: ‘The crash itself was traumatic, the impact felt endless.

‘I live with survivor’s guilt and the trauma of losing one of my closest friends, Moyra, who was sitting just inches from me.

‘I lie awake at night thinking about the “what ifs”.’

Katy-Louise Whelan, Moyra Whelan’s younger sister, said: ‘She had so much left that she wanted to experience… but the opportunity was stolen from her and we are devastated.

‘I’m still absolutely incredulous that she is not with us anymore.

‘It’s like the light of the world is dimmed and we will never be able to turn it back on again.

‘One aspect that haunts me is that my sister died violently… I’m truly devastated that my beautiful, innocent sister was subjected to that.’

Simon Stirling, defending, suggested Mitchell’s actions were a result of ‘inexperience rather than irresponsibility’.

He said Mitchell had only recently passed her driving test and would not have understood the risk of the manoeuvre she was attempting.

Judge Lowe said: ‘At the time of this collision, you had held a full driving licence for less than three weeks.

‘You were, at the time, a reckless and immature young driver suffering from the, frankly common, teenage delusion that you were invulnerable and free to do as you wished.

‘The lives of all the victims and their families have been irrevocably changed.’

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