Drink-driver jailed over two deaths

Green was banned from driving when the crash happened

A disqualified drink-driver who killed his fiancée and their baby in a high-speed crash has been jailed for six years.

Steve Green, 25, from Beaumont Leys, Leicester, admitted causing death by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, and driving with excess alcohol last January.

Nottingham Crown Court heard he was thrown from the car, but his pregnant girlfriend Andrea Thomson, 20, from Arnold, Nottingham, was trapped inside.

Seven months pregnant, she died hours later in hospital from multiple injuries.

Her baby girl, named Stella, was delivered by emergency Caesarean section by paramedics but survived for only seven hours.

Green's pregnant fiancee Andrea Thomson died in hospital

The court heard Green, who was banned at the time of the accident, had bought the car for £30 as scrap but drove it along the M1 from Leicester before striking a barrier on the A52 in Nottingham.

It careered across the carriageway, struck two signs and overturned as he approached a roundabout in Bramcote.

Sgt Roy Edwards of Nottinghamshire Police said: "To describe it as one of the worst vehicles I have ever heard of being on the road for some time would be an understatement."

The jury was told Green had previously been jailed three times and convicted on three occasions for drink-driving.

He and had drunk six pints of strong lager on the night of the accident.

Six years is better than none at all and I hope he suffers Kersti Thomson, fiancee's mother

Green's defence team said since the crash he had been full of remorse and had suffered flashbacks, and that he wished he had died instead.

Judge Joan Butler told him: "You have an appalling record of driving offences and showed complete and utter disregard for other road users.

"Your conduct on that day led directly to the death of the two people closest to you."

Outside the court, Andrea Thomson's mother Kersti said: "I wish he'd got the full 10 years, but six is better than none at all and I hope he suffers.

"He says he's suffering, but what about the suffering he's caused me and my family?

"I'm glad he's got that his sentence - he deserves it."