Man jailed for killing 'precious' sisters in Frome car crash

The sisters were killed in a head-on collision

A man who killed two "innocent and precious" sisters in a high-speed car crash has been jailed for 10 years.

Thomas Lenthall, 40, was driving in excess of 100mph along the A361 Frome Bypass on 25 July when he collided with the girl's VW Polo.

Madison, 21, and Liberty North, 17, were killed instantly - the day before Maddie was due to graduate.

Their mother, Verity North, said: "Our lives have been ripped to shreds. It is every parent's worst nightmare."

Lenthall, of no fixed address, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Thomas Lenthall has been jailed for 10 years

During his sentencing, Bristol Crown Court was told he had also been involved in a crash on the M4 just 40 days prior to the fatal collision.

It was revealed that at the time of the previous crash, his blood contained 18 times the legal limit of MDMA and he was released pending investigation at the time he crashed into the sisters.

Known to their loved ones as Maddie and Libby, the sisters had gone out to buy soft drinks, but never made it home after Lenthall attempted an "ill-advised and dangerous" overtaking manoeuvre, the court was told.

His car, an unregistered and untaxed Audi RS6, crashed head on into their car and both women were killed instantly, suffering what was described as "catastrophic and un-survivable injuries".

'Everything changed'

In an impact statement read out to the court, their parents, Verity and Jason North, said: "Our innocent, precious daughters, at such young ages, were just beginning to live their best lives and fulfil their dreams.

"Maddie, her sister Libby and the whole family were so excited and proud she was graduating as a teacher, achieving her childhood dream.

The family had gathered to celebrate Madison's graduation when the sisters were killed

"In a heartbeat, everything changed. They had been killed by the reckless dangerous driving of another.

"That night, the horror of seeing our daughter's faces on the location app stationary at the scene of the accident, driving to the scene and pulling up beside the police officer asking if he could help me.

"He asked my name, and once he heard it, his face changed only to be told my daughters were involved and it was fatal.

"How do you comprehend those words? Our world fell apart in that instance... Everything we lived for, our beautiful daughters, was gone.

"This tragedy has taken the privilege of being Maddie and Libby's mum and dad away.

"Our home is so painfully quiet now, our family home has changed forever. Our lives ripped to shreds."

The A361 Frome bypass was closed following the crash

Directly after the crash, Lenthall was taken to hospital with serious injuries and was later arrested and charged.

Blood samples were taken, but were destroyed before they could be analysed, the court was told.

Judge James Patrick said the world of the North family had "fallen apart" and no sentence could make up for the "tragic, desperate and senseless loss".

He said that in deciding upon the length of sentence he also took into account Lenthall's involvement in the previous crash.

"That should have served as a warning to you, but it did not," Judge Patrick said.

Emma Martin, defending, said her client had "struggled to cope" with the recent death of his mother and had "spiralled" into drug use.

"His mental health deteriorated, and that successful life he had led began to unravel," Ms Martin said.

Judge Patrick ordered that Lenthall should serve a minimum two-thirds of his sentence, and disqualified him from driving for a total of 13 years.