Triple death driver's sentence cut

Courtney Barker did not have a driving licence

An unqualified driver convicted of triple manslaughter after his car plunged into a lake killing his girlfriend's three children has had his jail term cut.

Forklift truck driver Courtney Barker from Luton in Bedfordshire, was described as an "essentially decent and caring person".

But the 23-year-old he had been guilty of "grossly irresponsible behaviour" which fell "little short of insane", the court of Appeal said.

Barker's sentence of five years has been cut to three.

Sharla Blair, three, died in the accident

Lord Justice Laws said the public interest and justice required "a sentence here of three years, rather than the five years that was passed by the judge".

Unqualified driver Barker was at the wheel when the car fell 30 feet into the Blue Lagoon Lake in Arlesey, Bedfordshire.

During the trial, witnesses told how they saw him drive towards the water holding the front door open with his right foot.

Imran Khan, aged six, Aaron Khan, five, and Sharla Blair, three, were trapped in the back seat and died in the incident.

The tragedy occurred on 28 July last year when Barker drove his girlfriend Claire Armstrong, 23, friend Ryan Purdy, 22, and the three children to the lake to swim and sunbathe.