Sentence on death driver 'an insult'

Martin Lynch, the father of 17-year-old Clare Smith, said the sentence given to his daughter's boyfriend, Lee Christopher Randell, was "an insult".

Randell, 19, wept in the dock as York Crown Court heard details of his night out with Clare that ended with him crashing his car into a concrete post.

Now her parents are furious that Randell was jailed for only two years for causing her death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs.

Randell drove Clare and their friend, Michael Scott, home from a flooded quarry where all three had taken Ecstasy.

Randell had not touched drugs or driven since, his barrister, Dan Edwards said.

Randell, of Croft Road, Camblesforth, admitted the offence.

Jailing him, and banning him from driving for five years, Judge Peter Charlesworth said: "You have devastated the lives of the family of Clare Smith and taken away the life of a young girl.

"You have also devastated, though not to the same extent, your own family and yourself."

Randell's driving had undoubtedly been affected by the drugs he had taken.

Mr Lynch said: "He will be a free man in 12 months and 12 months for my daughter's life is an insult. He should have got at least ten years." Clare's mother, Ann Smith, said: "I am absolutely appalled by the outcome."

She said Randell had got a shorter sentence than James William Roddy, who supplied Clare with Ecstasy.

Roddy, aged 44, of Woodville Terrace, Selby is serving two-and-a-half years for selling Clare the Ecstasy tablets all three teenagers took on the fatal night. Mr Edwards said Randell accepted full and sole responsibility for Clare's death.

Richard Gioserano, prosecuting, said Randell believed he was travelling at about 45mph on the approach to Womersley level crossing when he should have been doing 30mph. Randell had smoked cannabis as well as taking Ecstasy. The three teenagers stayed out all night with a brief sleep in the car.