Speeding driver jailed for causing death of Courtney Ellis

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Brandon Turton had embarked upon a “persistent and prolonged” period of dangerous driving when he hit Haydock High pupil Courtney Ellis on Blackbrook Road on the night of September 19, 2020

Prosecuting, Ben Jones, told the court that the collision took place at 9.50pm on Blackbrook Road, near to a bus shelter close to the Ship Inn.

The court heard Turton, who was then 19, had been driving a Renault Megane at between 73 and 93 mph at the time he hit Courtney, who was killed instantly.

Turton's car had been racing against another vehicle earlier that evening in the lead-up to the crash, the court heard.

Courtney Ellis (Image: Merseyside Police)

Mr Jones said: “The collision impact was such that Courtney was instantly killed and, by grace, unlikely to have suffered."

He said Courtney had spent the day with friends, including her sister Morgan, at Blackbrook fields and Sankey Valley.

He said although “there is a suggestion that Courtney had consumed alcohol and may have run across the road, the forensic investigation evidence is clear that the cause of the accident was the defendant’s speed”.

He added: “Even if Courtney had been reckless for her own safety as a pedestrian, the Crown’s case is that she would have reached the opposite pavement but for the defendant’s driving.”

The court heard that, after leaving the park, the group had sat talking in a bus shelter and “Courtney was upset about boyfriend issues and her sister was about to take her home”.

Mr Jones told the court that Turton, and three passengers, Daniel Fairhurst, Jonathan McClean and Megan Sumner, had spent that evening “in the defendant’s car driving around the St Helens and Haydock area, just for something to do”.

They then “met up with another vehicle” driven by Oliver McIntosh in the car park of Tesco in Haydock.

“The two cars set off in convoy” before “returning back to the Tesco car park, then setting off a second time leading to the collision location”.

Mr Jones played CCTV footage to the court depicting their journey which showed “the vehicles appear to travel at relatively high speeds and competing with each other”.

This included both dangerously overtaking an Arriva bus and Turton “driving on the wrong side of a traffic island” in the lead-up to the fatal collision.

Mr Jones told the court that a passenger in Mr McIntosh’s car had “texted the defendant to warn him about the manner of his driving”.

Mr Jones said one of the passengers in Turton’s car, Daniel Fairhurst, “told the defendant to ‘slow the f*** down’ or he would get out of the vehicle”.

Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Stock)

The court heard that during the second journey Mr Fairhurst was “flirting with Megan Sumner and it was apparent to him that the defendant was angered or jealous”.

He said “the manner of the defendant’s driving changed suddenly, picking up speed”.

It was said “as they approached the collision location, he (Mr Fairhurst) was not aware of any reduction in speed”.

The court heard from judge David Potter how Turton, who had no previous convictions, had “swerved to try and avoid her (Courtney) but you were simply going far too fast”.

The judge added: “The force propelled Courtney on to the windscreen of the car which shattered. She was then thrown on to the road having suffered catastrophic injuries from which she died, mercifully, instantaneously.

“He sister and her friend were both traumatised by what had taken place in front of them.

“To your (Turton’s) credit you stopped and remained until you were arrested at the scene. Members of the public did what they could but Courtney died as a result of the impact with your vehicle.

The judge added: “When interviewed you claimed that she (Courtney) had simply run out when into the road and there was nothing you could have done. You driving in a dangerous manner cut short the young life of a much-loved daughter, granddaughter and sister.

“Courtney was herself a child with enormous compassion and promise who leaves behind a shattered and traumatised family.”

He said Turton had driven at “grossly excessive speed” and made “a deliberate decision to ignore, or a flagrant disregard, for the rules of the road”.

The judge dismissed claims that Courtney running on to the road had been a “contributing factor” and said Turton showed “a persistent, prolonged and deliberate” case of “very bad driving at grossly excessive speed”.

He said this was “aggravated” by his ignoring of warnings from passengers and signs and was carried out “against a background of racing or competitive driving.”

The judge acknowledged to Turton he had “genuine remorse for your actions” and that “you will live for the rest of your life with the consequences of what you did.”

Turton, of Borron Road, Newton-le-Willows, was sentenced to six years and nine months by judge David Potter as he cried in the dock.

The judge said the sentence would have been nine years after a trial, with a 25 per cent reduction applied for his guilty plea.

The court was told Turton had written a letter stating how “deeply sorry” he was.

Turton was also disqualified from driving for seven years and four months.