Woman sipped booze at wheel before killing teens

Natasha Allarakhia, 36, was speeding at 96mph just before the crash

A woman who killed two school pupils when she smashed into the back of a stationary car after sipping alcohol at the wheel and speeding at 96mph (154km/h) has been jailed for 10 years.

Natasha Allarakhia, 36, was speeding in her Audi Q2 on the A17 at North Rauceby, Lincolnshire, on 20 June last year when she failed to notice a Ford Fiesta which had stopped at temporary traffic lights.

The driver of the Fiesta, William Ray, 17, and passenger, Eddie Shore,18, died. A second passenger, Jack Prince, 17, suffered life-changing injuries.

Previously, Allarakhia, of Turner Crescent, Norwich, had pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury.

William Ray (left), 17, and Eddie Shore, 18, died in the crash

David Eager, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court William was waiting at the traffic lights when Allarakhia smashed into the back of his Fiesta at about 70mph (112 km/h).

Data taken from the two vehicles showed Allarakhia did not take her foot off the accelerator until just two seconds before the crash and was only 121ft (37m) away from the Fiesta when her brakes were briefly applied.

Mr Eager told the court: "Not only was she driving at 96mph but she was not paying attention all the time.

"During part of the journey she was drinking from a can of alcohol, literally drinking and driving."

The court was told Allarakhia laughed when she passed a roadside breath test despite her own two daughters, aged seven and 12, being in the car with her.

All four occupants of the Fiesta were taken to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where William and Eddie later died from their head injuries.

Floral tributes were left at the scene

The prosecution had asked for sentence to be adjourned so victim impact statements could be read out in court from the family and friends of the two teenagers.

Giving evidence from the witness box, Eddie's mother, Kerri Foster, told Allarakhia that her "selfish actions" had robbed her of her son.

Allarakhia held her head and mumbled "I'm sorry" as Mrs Foster insisted "I am serving a life sentence of grief".

Eddie's father, James Shore, described the two days he spent holding his hand in hospital before he died.

"It has broken me and I will never be the same the person again," Mr Shore said.

William's mother, Sarah Barker, said: "Our lives after 9.41pm on that evening will never be the same again. My Will, my only boy, the love of my life."

His father, Steven, described his son as the "best of us" and noted how he had never heard a bad word said about him.

In his statement, Jack told Allarakhia he had been left with life-changing injuries and described the mental harm as "unspeakable".

The third passenger in William's Fiesta, Luke Wood, described how the deaths of his friends had left him with a lifetime of "grief and trauma".

In mitigation, Edward Renvoize, said Allarakhia had shown genuine remorse which was emphasised by her demeanour in court.

"She did not set out to hurt anyone," he said.

'Number of warnings'

The court heard Allarakhia had five previous convictions for 12 offences, including a bad driving record.

"This is a woman who has had a number of warnings to slow down," Judge James House KC noted.

"This defendant was not just driving significantly in excess of the limit but was not paying attention for a significant period of time."

Allarakhia was also made the subject of a 12-and-a-half year driving ban and must take an extended retest before she can ever drive again.

Following the teenagers' deaths, tributes were also paid by Carre's Grammar School in Sleaford.

Head teacher Nick Law said the teenagers' deaths had "really rocked the whole community".

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