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Home / 'Fast and Furious' driver and passenger of a powerful sports car that hit a quadbike at 144mph killing four young adults are jailed for nearly 18 years

'Fast and Furious' driver and passenger of a powerful sports car that hit a quadbike at 144mph killing four young adults are jailed for nearly 18 years

  • Daniel Raynor, 23, was behind the wheel of a Nissan car that struck the quadbike
  • Illegal road race was held on A6201 between Upton and Hemsworth in Yorkshire
  • Tragic scene compared in court to 'the film The Fast and the Furious'
  • Passenger Todd, 22, also admitted four counts of death by dangerous driving

By Harvey Day For Mailonline[1]

Published: 16:17 BST, 19 May 2017 | Updated: 21:39 BST, 19 May 2017

The driver and passenger of a powerful sports car that hit the back of a quadbike at 144 mph killing four young adults were jailed today for nearly 18 years.

Daniel Raynor, 23, was behind the wheel of a Nissan 350Z car that struck the quadbike at high speed during an illegal road race on the A6201 between Upton and Hemsworth in West Yorkshire. 

The tragic scene was compared in court to 'something out of the film The Fast and the Furious.'

Daniel Raynor (left) was behind the wheel of a Nissan 350Z car that struck the quadbike. His passenger Matthew Todd (right) also admitted four counts of death by dangerous driving

Police at the scene of a fatal crash involving a quad bike and a bronze Nissan 350z sports car  on Se ptember 27 last year

Ryan Beal, 20, Brandon Brown, 20, Alexandra Binns, 18, and Terrie Louise Kirby, 16, all died following the tragic collision on September 27 last year.

A judge heard how the four young people who died were out celebrating Miss Kirby's birthday.

Raynor of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, admitted four counts of death by dangerous driving for the offence and was jailed for nine years.

He was also disqualified from driving for 15 years following the tragedy.

Ryan Beal (left) and Brandon Brown (right), both 20, were killed following the collision in West Yorkshire

His passenger Matthew Todd, 22, also of Barnsley, admitted four counts of death by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight and a half years.

He was disqualified from driving for 10 years and will also serve consecutive sentences of 4 months for driving whilst disqualified - whilst on bail for the offence - and nine months for failing to stop after an accident.

Eleven other defendants were also sentenced for encouraging and assisting in the commission of a dangerous driving offence.

Leeds Crown Court heard the quad bike had not been involved in the race and 'shouldn't have been there'.

Alexandra Binns (left), 18, and Terrie Louise Kirby (right), 16, were also killed in the crash 

Judge Marson QC said: 'I have no doubt that you, Raynor, were showing off and trying to drive as fast as you could.

'The quad bike shouldn't have been there but it was.

'Just before 12.30am on September 27 - with Todd as your passenger - you were travelling at 144mph and hit the quadbike.

'In my judgement this is a dreadful case. The devastation caused has been immense.

'You, Todd, got into Raynor's car for the last run. You were content to travel with him knowing the dang er that driving at such speed could cause.'

The tragic scene was compared in court to 'something out of the film The Fast and the Furious'

Sentencing the rest of the defendants for encouraging and assisting in the commission of a dangerous driving offence, Judge Marson QC added: 'In a case like this there are no winners, only losers. This is an extremely bad case of its type.

'It is a tragedy. In assessing the appropriate sentence I have had to put aside my own emotion.

'Most of you are in good character and are from decent, law abiding families. In my judgement there are no grounds for distinguishing against you.

Statements from the devastated fam ilies... 

Toni Brown, the mother of victim Brandon, said after the verdicts: 'We love him and we miss him so much. It has been a terrible time for us. The sentences are not going to bring him back.

'The sentencing was disgusting. We wanted consecutive sentences because of the four deaths. It does feel like a bit of closure but they [the defendants] still have their lives don't they?

'At least their families will have someone to go and see, instead we are going to a graveyard.'

In a joint statement, the families of those who died added: 'We lost sons and daughters just entering the prime of their lives.

'We lost the chance of seeing the people they would have grown into, and the family lives they could have had. The pai n of that loss may lessen but it will never go away, and our families will always be left with the knowledge they will never again be whole.

'Ryan's daughter Ruby has also been left without a father and for her to be given such a short time with her Dad is cruel beyond words.

'We are heartbroken with Alexandra's tragic death, our world will never be the same. Losing Brandon has devastated our lives and things will never be the same for our family.

'Terrie Louise was a much-loved daughter, granddaughter and sister who will be sadly missed by all including her extended family and friends of Upton. She will be remembered always and forever.'

The statement also said: 'In our eyes everyone convicted of taking part in racing on that night has to take responsibility for what took place, not just the two men behind the wheel of that Nissan.

'Why did everyone apart from the two in the Nissan leave the scene of the incident where four young people were dead and dying?'

'I have decided after much hesitation not to disqualify you from driving but you will receive 5 penalty points each and the offence will be noted on your licence.

'This was not a spur of the moment offence as it was planned and prolonged. I make it clear that I am not sentencing you for the criminal responsibility for the deaths.

'An appropriate punishment for the offence is custodial sentence. This is an appalling case.'

  • Stephen Hebden, 23 and Nathan Jackson, 21, both from Barnsley, were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for encouraging and assisting in the commission of a dangerous driving offence after being found guilty by a jury.
    • Mark Mason, 24, Jacob Ward, 23 and Jake Hackleton, 21, all from Barnsley, were all sentenced to 46 weeks imprisonment for encouraging and assisting in the commission of a dangerous driving offence.
  • Clark Henfrey, 20, Jack Dickinson-Ellis, 20, both from Barnsley, were sentenced to 46 weeks imprisonment at a youth offenders institution for encouraging and assisting in the commission of a dangerous driving offence.
  • Gemma Layton, 28, of Leeds, West Yorks., Jason Ogilivie, 27, of Wakefield, West Yorks., and Andrew Kirkwood, 33 of Dewsbury, West Yorks., were all sentenced to 42 weeks imprisonment for encouraging and assisting in the commission of a dangerous driving offence.
  • Sam Rowley, 20, from Sheffield, South Yorks., will be sentenced on July 14 so that he can sit university exams in his final year. He is also charged with encouraging and assisting in the commission of a dangerous driving offence.

Judge Marson Q C concluded proceedings by giving his condolences to the families of the victims and in particular the dignified way that the parents have sat through the investigation.

Toni Brown, the mother of victim Brandon, said after the verdicts: 'We love him and we miss him so much.' Pictured, flowers left at the scene of the crash 

He added that he was full of admiration for the police detectives involved and commended the officers.

Detective Inspector Richard Holmes said: 'For so many young lives to be lost in a single incident was truly shocking and it is no exaggeration to say that police officers who dealt with this case have been seriously affected by what they saw and experienced.'

The officer said: 'Driving at this speed, on a 60mph road, was an act of utter stupidity and extreme recklessness which frankly beggars belief.

'Raynor posed a massive danger to anyone else he came into contact with on that road and tragically, when he did, the consequences of his actions were devastating.' 

Judge Marson QC concluded proceedings by giving his condolences to the families of the victims. Pictured, police at the crash site 

References

  1. ^ Harvey Day For Mailonline (www.dailymail.co.uk)
  2. ^ e-mail (www.dailymail.co.uk)
  3. ^ 5 View comments (www.dailymail.co.uk)
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