Speeding driver who killed young woman in horror crash after 80mph police chase is jailed

A driver who killed a young woman from Solihull, when he crashed into her car during an 80mph police chase, has been jailed for six years and six months.

Brandon Daniels, 20, was at the wheel of an Audi A3 which was being pursued by officers when it smashed into a Volkswagen Golf on Kingsland Road in Kingstanding on July 29.

Sarah Giles, a passenger in the Golf, was killed. She was just 20-years-old.

Connor Donnelly, Miss Giles’s boyfriend, who was driving the Golf, and Dalton Banks, were also seriously injured.

Birmingham Crown Court heard both were in a coma for a number of days in hospital.

When police seized Daniel’s phone, they recovered footage on various other dates of him “driving dangerously at high speed.”

In one clip he was driving at 140mph and was also seen driving around on the day of the collision.

Daniels, of Chingford Road, Kingstanding, previously pleaded guilty to causing the death by driving dangerously.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury to Connor Donnelly and Dalton Banks by driving dangerously.

Matthew Brook, defending, said Daniels was aware of the serious and lasting impact of his actions.

He said on most of the occasions he was filmed before the accident “boy racing” he had been a passenger.

Mr Brook said: “He is an immature 20 year old. Those were the actions of an immature person.

“He does have a few difficulties. He is someone with a low intellectual capacity.

“It is likely his IQ range is between 52 and 60.”

Judge Henderson sentenced Daniels to six years and six months detention.

He disqualified him from driving for nine years and three months.

He also passed two four year concurrent sentences for the charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Judge Henderson said: “She (Sarah Giles) was intelligent, kind and generous.

“We have heard the most heart breaking statements. She was out with her boyfriend. He was completely blameless.

“In your car were four passengers. You were driving a car on false plates. You had no licence and trying to escape from the police.

“You drove up to 80 mph. It is a miracle no one else was injured.”

Sharon Giles, Sarah’s mother, had issued an emotional statement before sentence.

She said: “It did not fully hit me until I identified her lifeless body in the mortuary.

“I felt numb and paralysed by grief.

“Her life was horrifically cut short.

“She is the last and first thought of my mind each day.

“I would give anything to change places with her. My appetite has gone.

“Food seems unimportant. I feel a great emptiness inside me.

“My daughter loved life.

“She had plans to travel the world and start a family.

“The effect of her death has devastated my entire family I have been given a life sentence of grief.”

Sarah Giles’ family are appealing for the current 14 years maximum sentence for killer drivers to be increased to life imprisonment – you can sign the petition here: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/life-for-killer-drivers

Read more: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/speeding-driver-who-killed-sarah-15457101