A driver who was speeding at almost 100mph before he lost control of his Vauxhall Adam and slammed into a parked car, killing a 23-year-old sitting in a stationary Ford Ka, has today been jailed for six years.
Claudia-Rose Moor was killed and Myles Woollett, 22, fled the scene to leave the young woman to die from her injuries with a passenger in his car trapped, a judge heard.
Woollett, from Mereworth, near Maidstone, has admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injuries by dangerous driving to his cousin, a passenger in his own vehicle.
Claudia-Rose Moor (pictured) was killed and Myles Woollett, 22, fled the scene to leave the young woman to die from her injuries with a passenger in his car trapped, a judge heard
He has also been disqualified from driving for seven years, Sussex Police has said, and will need to take an extended retest before being able to get his licence again.
He was sentenced by a judge at Lewes Crown Court for the horrific fatal crash which happened in April 2020.
Shocking footage taken from his cousin’s mobile phone from inside the car showed Woollett driving at high speeds, reaching 98mph just before the crash.
Shaky video shows him driving erratically and quickly, hitting grass verges and ‘narrowly avoiding collisions with other motorists’, police said.
A statement from the force said: ‘Emergency services were called to the A21 at Mountfield shortly after 6pm on April 25, 2020 following a collision involving a Vauxhall Adam driven by Myles Woollett, aged 22.
Myles Woollett (pictured), 22, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injuries by dangerous driving to his cousin, a passenger in his own vehicle
‘He was seen driving recklessly at high speeds before attempting to overtake a vehicle.
‘He lost control and collided with a stationary vehicle driven by Claudia-Rose Moor, aged 23.
‘She suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, and sadly died from her injuries two days later at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on April 27.’
Woollett planned to meet his cousin the day of the fatal crash to go for a drive, the court heard.
He had been refused entry into a Waitrose store just an hour before the incident because it was believed he had consumed alcohol or drugs.
The police statement added: ‘Witnesses saw him attempting dangerous manoeuvres as he approached the A21 at Mountfield near Robertsbridge, including near misses with other vehicles.
Shocking video footage taken from his cousin’s mobile phone from inside the car showed Woollett driving at high speeds, reaching 98mph just before the crash
‘In the moments before the crash, he reached speeds of up to 98mph and then attempted to overtake a Nissan Almera, but lost control as he tried to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming Honda Jazz.
‘It caused him to veer across the road, colliding with Claudia-Rose’s Ford Ka which was stationary in a layby.’
The man left Ms Moor and his passenger, trapped and badly injured in their vehicles, by climbing over a fence and running.
The next day, he was arrested as a relative’s address in Yalding, Kent.
Detective Inspector Sue Neilson from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: ‘The shocking video footage shows Woollett driving erratically on the road, hitting grass verges and narrowly avoiding collisions with other motorists.
‘That should have been warning enough that he was not safe behind the wheel of his vehicle, but tragically he continued on his journey and went on to cause the fatal collision.
The man left Ms Moor (pictured) and his passenger, trapped and badly injured in their vehicles, by climbing over a fence and running
‘It is clear he was not driving with reasonable care for himself or for other road users, reaching high speeds and driving dangerously.
‘This case demonstrates the devastating consequences of a young motorist driving at speed.
‘The combination of excess speed and inconsiderate driving are two of the main factors for why people are killed and seriously injured on our roads.
‘We welcome the sentence passed by the judge as a warning to other motorists, and to take a dangerous driver off our roads.’
The family of Ms Moor, who is from St Leonards and was a team leader at the Co-operative, said their lives ‘can never be the same again’.
The said in a statement: ‘Words do not justify the pain we feel, the impact of grief has been catastrophic on us as a family.
Woollett has also been disqualified from driving for seven years, Sussex Police has said, and will need to take an extended retest before being able to get his license again
‘We have been robbed of our gorgeous girl and we are all burdened by the constant numbness of grief. It is impossible that our lives can ever be the same again.’
Her mother Nicola Moor, aged 47 years, said: ‘Claudia’s charismatic personality made her such a great friend to everyone, she was incredibly funny and always brought laughter and noise.
‘She never saw wrong in others and was always the first to offer aid to others less fortunate than herself.
‘Claudia was full of compassion and generosity, her heart brimming full of love for her family and her so many friends.
‘As Claudia’s mother, I am so incredibly proud of her morals and what she stood for, so full of kindness and support of others.
‘She was incredibly beautiful both inside and out, a strong and fiercely independent young woman who would give her love to others so freely.’
