A street racer was speeding at up to 93mph in a 30mph zone when he struck and killed a 14-year-old girl.
Courtney Ellis' teenage sister witnessed her sibling's horrific death, while the youngster's mum unknowingly encountered the scene of the crash as she drove home from work. Driver Brandon Turton today cried as he was jailed for causing the fatal collision, having been racing at high speeds around residential streets in convoy with another car at the time.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Wednesday, that the schoolgirl, from Haydock, died instantly after being hit by the 21-year-old's Renault Megane on Blackbrook Road in St Helens shortly after 9.45pm on September 19, 2020. Ben Jones, prosecuting, described how he had been "showing off or driving in anger", having made unsuccessful attempts to woo a female passenger.
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Turton, of Borron Road in Newton-le-Willows, had been driving around the area "just for something to do" and met up with a silver Vauxhall Astra being driven by Oliver McIntosh in the car park of Tesco in Haydock. In the 15 minutes before the incident, the two cars "set off in convoy" and completed a high speed circuit of nearby roads while "competing with each other".
Both motorists overtook a bus, Mr McIntosh narrowly avoiding smashing into oncoming traffic and Turton driving the wrong way over a traffic island in order to do so. The latter undertook his fellow driver at one point and nearly caused him to crash, leading to Mr McIntosh's passenger texting him to warn him about his behaviour.
The pair returned to the supermarket before setting off again six minutes later. Turton's friends inside the black vehicle "repeatedly told him to slow down", one of them later describing his driving as "awful".
Another stated that they were being "thrown around the car" as he took corners and roundabouts at speed and overtook other vehicles. He also told the defendant to "slow the f*** down" and said he would get out otherwise.
This witness described how he had been flirting with a woman in the Renault whom Turton had also been interested in romantically - however, she had not reciprocated these feelings and it was "apparent he was angered or jealous". Mr McIntosh too said that he had been "driving like an idiot".
Courtney meanwhile had spent the afternoon in a nearby park with her now 18-year-old sister Morgan and a friend. While the teenager had been drinking, she was described as "just being silly" or "giddy".
The aspiring midwife had "had a falling out with a boy and was upset", and the group sat talking near to the Ship Inn pub for around quarter of an hour before Morgan suggested they head home. As they did so, Courtney ran across the road and was hit by the car and "thrown through the air" before landing in the carriageway.
Turton "swerved at the last second" but was travelling at speeds of at least 73mph, and possibly up to 93mph, on the 30mph road. One of his passengers thought the vehicle was going to flip over as it hurtled onwards towards a dog walker before coming to a stop.
Courtney was described as having "little chance to assess her own safety in crossing". The friend who was present said they "did not see or hear the approach of the defendant's vehicle" beforehand.
Mr Jones added: "Although there is a suggestion that Courtney had consumed alcohol and may have run across the road, the forensic investigation evidence is clear that the cause of the accident was the defendant’s speed. Even if Courtney had been reckless for her own safety as a pedestrian, the crown’s case is that she would have reached the opposite pavement but for the defendant’s driving."
The court was told Morgan has been left "traumatised" by the harrowing events, having screamed "wake up Courtney" and passed out twice in the aftermath. By chance, Courtney's mum happened across the scene on her way home from work and continued onwards - only realising later that her daughter had been involved in the accident.
Turton, who has no previous convictions, stopped after the crash and tested negative for drink and drugs. Under interview, he said he "only saw her at the last minute as it was dark" and that he "ran back to help at the scene and was sorry".
Gerald Baxter, defending, told the court that his client "has a good work record" and had acted as a carer to his disabled mum. His dad also died recently.
Mr Baxter said: "The defendant fully understands there is nothing I can say that can bring any consolation to Courtney's parents or her family for what happened and their loss. I am not here to make any excuses for the way he drove - there are no excuses.
"The defendant fully understands that he is going to prison for years. It doesn't even begin to cover the loss that has been suffered by Courtney's family.
"There was never any dispute in his responsibility for what happened and his guilt. He is extremely remorseful.
"He simply says he is deeply sorry. It should, of course, never have happened.
"If there was anything he could do to change it, he would. He can't put into words anything that will take away the pain from this situation."
Turton - who wore a short-sleeved white shirt, a red tie and a face mask in the dock - admitted causing death by dangerous driving on Monday this week. He was handed six years and nine months in prison this afternoon and dabbed his eyes with a tissue as he was led down to the cells.
Sentencing, Judge David Potter said: "Courtney was, in her final moments, laughing and joking. The evidence revealed from painstaking forensic examinations was that you had been driving at a minimum of 73mph immediately before the impact, or potentially much quicker even than that.
"You ignored the obvious dangers. The collision was entirely the fault of the speed at which you were travelling.
"But for your dangerous driving, Courtney would have successfully reached the side of the road - or, alternatively, at the speed you should have been driving the collision would have resulted in far less serious consequences.
"Your driving immediately prior to the collision and earlier in the evening had been aggressive and dangerous. You could not successfully react to Courtney as she stepped into the road.
"You were simply going far too fast to avoid impact. Your dangerous driving cut short the life of a much-loved daughter, granddaughter and sister.
"Courtney was a loving child with enormous compassion and promise, who leaves behind a shattered and traumatised family. No-one who has not suffered the sudden loss of a child in circumstances such as these is ever in a position to understand how they feel.
"No sentence I can impose on you will reconcile the family of the deceased victim to their loss, nor will it cure their anguish. Your driving at grossly excessive speeds involved a deliberate decision to ignore, or a flagrant disregard for, the rules of the road and a disregard for the safety of others.
"This was a persistent, prolonged and deliberate course of very bad driving. Although you weren't to know it at the time, Morgan witnessed her sister being killed in truly shocking circumstances - leaving a psychological impact which will probably stay with her forever.
"Her mother drove by the scene of the accident, not thinking at the time that her daughter was lying dead or dying while being attended to by others. I'm satisfied that you have genuine remorse for your actions and will live for the rest of your life with the consequences of what you did."
Turton will serve half of his sentence before being released on licence and was told to pay a victim surcharge. He was also banned from driving for seven years and four months and must pass an extended retest before being allowed back on the road.
The judge also commended the actions of Debbie Scotscan and Emma Davies, members of the public who gave Courtney CPR and mouth to mouth for 20 minutes in attempt to resuscitate her before an ambulance arrived. They were described as "acting with care despite traumatic circumstances" and recommended for awards from the High Sheriff of Merseyside.
Judge Potter added: "I wish to publicly commend the actions of Debbie Scotscan and Emma Davies, both of whom provided CPR and tried for many minutes to resuscitate Courtney in the time it took the ambulance to arrive. Their efforts were sadly to no avail due to the enormity of the injuries suffered, but the court nonetheless wishes to commend them for their selfless citizenship."
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