Road racers jailed for girls' deaths

Kayla Young and Amy Jones were killed by Hill and Priestley

Two drivers have been jailed for a road race which led to the deaths of two 13-year-old girls.

James Hill, 30, was three times over the drink-drive limit when his car hit Amy Jones and Kayla Young on 18 May, on the A46 in Grimsby, a court heard.

Hill, who has a string of previous driving convictions, had already admitted causing their deaths by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight years and banned from driving for 15 years.

The driver he was racing, 23-year-old David Priestley, was jailed for five-and-a-half years and banned from driving for 10 years after being found guilty of the same charge.

Lost control

Grimsby Crown Court heard Hill and Priestley engaged in "crass stupidity" and a "parading of egos" as they raced each other through the town's streets.

They were enjoying starting their teenage years and had their whole lives ahead of them Judge John Reddihough

They were accused of driving at speeds estimated at an average 87mph, before Hill lost control and hit the girls.

Amy was pronounced dead at the scene and Kayla died a short time later in hospital.

The court heard both men fled the scene, but Hill turned up at a house covered in blood and asking to use the phone. The householder called police.

'Teenage years'

Judge John Reddihough told the pair: "By your dreadful actions in two motor cars you snuffed out the lives of two young girls.

"They were enjoying starting their teenage years and had their whole lives ahead of them."

He told the pair Amy and Kayla's families were about to face their first of many Christmases without them.

Hill has previous convictions including three for driving while under the influence of excess alcohol, two for being drunk in charge of a vehicle and another for driving while unfit due to drink or drugs.

He also has a number of other driving offences recorded against him, including a number for driving while disqualified and has served three short prison terms.