Sisters killed day before graduation by man driving over 100mph
A man from the West Country has been jailed after he killed two sisters after driving at over 100mph in Frome. Madison and Liberty North, known to their loved ones as Maddie and Libby, had been celebrating Maddie’s graduation when they were crashed into by Thomas Lenthall. The 40-year-old had been travelling down the A361 Frome Bypass at extreme speeds on Tuesday, July 25 when his Audi RS6 collided with a VW Polo.
Maddie and Libby, who had popped out from their nearby family home to get some soft drinks, were in the Polo and tragically died at the scene, reports SomersetLive[1]. Lenthall, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 10 years at Bristol Crown Court today (December 14) after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving. The parents of Maddie and Libby, aged 21 and 17, issued a powerful victim statement to the court.
Verity and Jason North said: “Maddie, her sister Libby and the whole family were so excited and proud she was graduating as a teacher, achieving her childhood dream. Family were invited, the party was arranged, everything felt perfect. “On the evening of the 25th, Maddie and Libby popped out for a Coke, and they never came home.
It is every parent’s worst nightmare – their lives were taken. Our innocent, precious daughters, at such young ages, were just beginning to live their best lives and fulfil their dreams. “In a heartbeat, everything changed.
They had been killed by the reckless dangerous driving of another.” Lenthall was taken to hospital with serious injuries and was later arrested and charged. At the time of the collision, he had been overtaking another car when he collided head on with Maddie’s car.
Thomas Lenthall (Image: Avon and Somerset Police)
Sentencing, His Honour Judge James Patrick said the world of the North family had fallen apart at their desperate loss.
He ordered that Lenthall should serve a minimum two-thirds of his sentence, and disqualified him from driving for seven years. Lead investigator from the Collision Investigation Unit, Carl Derosa, said: “This is a tragic case where two young ladies, with their whole lives ahead of them, were cruelly taken too soon from their parents and family. “The reckless actions of one man has left two parents without their children and a hole in their lives which no sentence will be able to fill.
I can only hope this sentence will go some way to providing justice for Maddie and Libby’s family.
“My team worked through the night to bring this case before the courts so quickly and we thank everyone for their support in making this sentence possible.
I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Jason and Verity and I hope Lenthall understands the ramifications of his actions that day.”
References
- ^ SomersetLive (www.somersetlive.co.uk)