Man jailed over car blaze death

Emily's mother Patricia Brady called Arshad's behaviour "despicable"

A man who left his girlfriend to die in a burning car after telling emergency services there was no one inside has been jailed for six years.

Waqaw Arshad, 24, of Sherd Close, Luton, admitted causing the death of Emily Brady, 17, by careless driving while over the drink drive limit.

Luton Crown Court heard the car crashed into a field in Buckinghamshire, while Emily was a front-seat passenger.

In May Arshad also pleaded guilty to causing her death while uninsured.

Judge John Bevan, sentencing, said he could not be satisfied Arshad, who said he did not remember what had happened that night, would have given those answers if he had not been drunk and in shock after the accident.

'Family suffering'

As well as sentencing Arshad to six years in prison, Judge Bevan disqualified him from driving for eight years.

He said: "I have read the rambling 10-page letter which sets out how sad you are at causing the death of your girlfriend and I have no doubt whatever that you are.

"The contrast between that and the deeply moving impact statement from 17-year-old Emily Brady's mother, a nurse, forms an unbridgeable gulf.

"Her description of the loss she and her family suffered and continue to suffer at your hands cannot be put into words."

Waqaw Arshad failed to tell fire crews that Emily Brady was in the burning car

The court earlier heard Arshad was twice asked if anyone was inside the vehicle and on both occasions he said there was nobody else with him.

He failed to tell paramedics who arrived on the scene about the girl and later told the fire officer for a second time no one else was in the car, the court heard.

Emily's charred body was discovered by firefighters as they tackled the blaze.

The court heard that following her death and while on bail Arshad was arrested for drink driving.

'Despicable behaviour'

He appeared before magistrates, pleaded guilty to failing to supply a specimen and was banned from driving for 12 months.

Emily's mother Patricia Brady said: "It was despicable behaviour to make no attempt to try to pull her out of the car."

The court was told the couple had been out together and both had been drinking.

The prosecution said Arshad had failed to negotiate a bend on a country lane and crashed his vehicle into a tree before coming to a halt in a field in Eversholt, where it caught fire.

Both had been wearing seat belts and Arshad managed to get out of the car, but no attempt was made to rescue his teenage girlfriend, the court heard.

Fire crews found the car alight with the tyres melting along with paintwork.

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Emily's mother gave a statement outside Luton Crown Court