Man who killed two driving wrong way on M25 jailed

Barancan Nurcin had been banned from driving before he drove the wrong way down two motorways in Hertfordshire

A van driver who killed his passenger and an “irreplaceable” mother-of-eight when he drove along the M25 the wrong way has been jailed for 18 years.

Barancan Nurcin, 22, was trying to evade the police when he caused a head-on collision near St Albans, Hertfordshire, in February.

His passenger Fahad Dek, 23, from Enfield, London, and a woman in another car, Zoe Hawes, 39, from Essex, both died.

Nurcin, of High Road in Tottenham, London, pleaded guilty to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving as well as causing death while unlicensed and uninsured.

The collision happened at about 04:00 GMT on 4 February between junctions 22 and 21A of the M25

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that no officer was to blame “for this disastrous set of events”.

The collision happened at about 04:00 GMT on 4 February between junctions 22 and 21A of the M25 near St Albans.

Nurcin was driving a white Citroen Dispatch, which he had stolen, when he crashed into a silver DFSK 580, a silver Skoda Superb and a black Peugeot 5008.

Ms Hawes' husband, Wayne, and four other people were also seriously injured. Mr Hawes, 49, spent nearly two months in hospital following the incident.

Zoe Hawes and Fahad Def were both killed during the collision

St Albans Crown Court heard Ms Hawes was on her way to Luton Airport with her husband to fly to Morocco to celebrate her 40th birthday.

In a victim statement Mr Hawes said his wife was “irreplaceable.”

The family of Fahad Def said: “He will be eternally cherished and remembered.”

Nurcin had no licence after being banned from driving in July 2021, while under the influence of cannabis.

Prosecutor Mark Fenhalls KC said police planned to stop the stolen van as it moved south down the M1 near junction 8 at Hemel Hempstead.

Nurcin had swerved on and off the motorway, at times driving in the wrong direction on the M1 and around roundabouts in Hemel.

Other drivers flashed their lights and swerved as he rejoined the M25, heading east on the westbound carriageway.

The fatal crash happened on a bridge on Park Street Lane. Mr Fenhalls said “the combined collision speed was 130 to 140 miles per hour”.

The court heard that Nurcin showed "contempt for every other road user"

Mr Fenhalls said Nurcin showed "contempt for every other road user".

At the time of the crash, Nurcin was serving a suspended 15-month prison sentence for causing grievous bodily harm.

He was also on bail for a public order offence in April 2021. He admitted breaching the terms of the two-year suspended sentence.

Defending, Edward McKiernan said Nurcin had the good sense to plead guilty.

When passing sentence, Mr Justice Edward Murray said it had been a "prolonged spell of truly appalling and deliberately dangerous driving".

He told Nurcin that Zoe "had many plans for her future which you have taken away".

Nurcin was banned from driving for 20 years.