Teenager jailed for drink deaths

A teenager who caused the death of two friends while he was drink-driving has been sent to a young offenders' institution for three-and-a-half years.

Gavin Clissold, 19, lost control of his car in September last year before it hit an oncoming vehicle, killing two of his passengers, Laura Hill, 20, and 19-year-old Mathew Sallis.

A third passenger in Clissold's car was seriously injured, along with the driver of the car he collided with.

Clissold, of Wyman's Brook, Cheltenham, was "about twice the legal limit", Gloucester Crown Court heard.

Disqualified

Judge James Tabor QC said Clissold drove when he knew he had had too much to drink, and that two people died as a result of his irresponsibility.

Clissold pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of causing death by careless driving when over the alcohol limit.

In mitigation, Ian Halliday said Clissold was a "decent, upright, honest young man" who had not tried to blame others.

Clissold was also disqualified from driving for five years.