Driver jailed for killing passenger in crash

A driver who was filmed speeding at nearly 90mph on a residential road shortly before a fatal crash has been sentenced to more than six years in prison.

Finley Lintott-Warrillow from North East Road in Southampton, admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Brandon Cousens, 19, who was in the front passenger seat. A rear passenger survived.

The 21-year-old lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa, hitting a wall and parked cars before flying into the air in Middle Road in Sholing, Southampton.

Judge Nigel Peters KC said he was driving at speeds "more akin to a racetrack than a residential road".

In a victim impact statement Brandon Cousen's mother Charlene Cousens said he was a "kind, caring and loving child".

She said his death had left "a hole in the family's heart that can never be filled".

Ms Cousens said Brandon was "always laughing and smiling, living his life how he wanted to right up to the moment he took his last breath".

She said: "It is so heart-breaking as a family knowing that we will never get the chance to see him grow into a man, celebrate his 21st birthday, future birthdays, get married, have children and watch him live out all the dreams and life experiences he wanted in life."

Southampton Crown Court heard Lintott-Warrillow had been driving his friends home in a black Vauxhall Corsa after going out for food together in Portswood in the early hours of 5 March 2023.

Police were then called at 00:48 to a report of a collision on Middle Road, Southampton.

CCTV footage from the junction of Middle Road and South East Road, just moments before the collision, showed the Corsa being driven at approximately 87mph.

The road has a 30mph limit and had cars parked on both sides of the road.

Police investigators found that Lintott-Warrillow lost control of his car, crashed into a wall and the speed of his driving was so extreme that the car was launched at least 15m through the air after the initial impact.

Chf Insp Emma Hart said: "Brandon had his whole life ahead of him and his family has now been torn apart by the devastating consequences of that speeding. Our thoughts are with them today.

"National research has found that young male car drivers aged 17 to 24 are four times as likely to be killed or seriously injured compared with all car drivers aged 25 or over.

"I hope this sends a message to all young drivers out there to not take unnecessary risks that could see themselves or their friends killed."

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