Takeaway thieves killed in crash

Christopher Jolley died at the scene with the other boys

Three Essex boys were killed in a car crash as they fled with a takeaway they had not paid for, a court heard.

A takeaway worker was following the 15-year-olds when they hit a tree near Halstead last year, prosecutors said.

Christopher Jolley, of Little Maplestead, Danny Archer, of Sible Hedingham, and Richard Warren, of Halstead, died at the scene.

Christopher Kibble, 18, and takeaway worker Sakir Olgun, 27, deny causing death by dangerous driving.

The car in which the boys died, with Mr Kibble at the wheel, crashed in May 2007, the court heard.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton told Chelmsford Crown Court that Mr Kibble and Mr Olgun, who was driving the other car, were responsible for the youngsters' deaths.

The Ford Escort in which they were passengers hit a tree, after a staff member at a kebab shop gave chase in a Volkswagen Bora when they failed to hand over the £14 for the food order, he said.

Talk of 'running'

"Kibble and his three friends had ordered food while night fishing with other youths in Halstead in May 2007.

"Mr Olgun had delivered the order to the four youths as they sat in the Escort in the car park.

"Mr Kibble had driven off and Mr Olgun had followed as events took a tragic course," he added.

The cars had collided on a dark country road as Olgun attempted to overtake after crossing a double white line, said Mr Paxton.

Earlier, there had been talk among the group of "doing a runner" when the food arrived, said Mr Paxton.

Kibble, 17 at the time of the accident, had passed his driving test less than a week before the crash.

The case continues.