Killed in 100mph chase

A drunk driver killed a 21-year-old friend in a 100mph police chase on Christmas Day, a court heard.

Lillie Clack was with her boyfriend Jack Watson, 24, close friend Delia Casey, and two other friends, Callum Smith and George Leggett celebrating when Charlie Hilton, 25, offered to give them a lift home from Morden.

The group sat with Mr Smith in the front seat, Delia on his lap and three sat in the back of the powerful Mercedes AMG A35 owned by Hilton’s mother, which has a top speed of 155mph, the Old Bailey heard.

The car was flagged down by police for speeding before accelerating to 70mph and up to an estimated 100mph through residential streets with a limit of 40mph as his passengers screamed at him to stop.

During the police chase the officer lost sight of the Mercedes in Colston Avenue, Carlshalton.

Moments later about a mile further on he lost control of the car and collided with a tree on Beeches Avenue.

The speed on impact was between 70-75mph as Hilton applied the brakes at the last moment.

The car turned over and caught fire and members of the public came with fire extinguishers and tried to get passengers out.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, Lillie died three days later having suffered serious injuries including a bleed to the brain and a punctured lung.

Delia Casey suffered extremely serious injuries including broken bones in her legs and back which required correction with metal screws.

Callum Smith suffered a wound to the head, fractured ribs, arms and ankles, and both lungs were punctured.

Judge Sarah Munro, KC, described the facts of the case as ‘beyond tragic’.

She told Hilton: ‘The decision you took to get behind the steering wheel of a car late at night on Christmas Eve 2021 has caused irreparable damage to the lives of so many.

‘Nothing you can ever do or say and nothing I can do today can put the clock back and make things better for those affected by your stupid, selfish and as your counsel describes “mindless” decision to drive a car in the circumstances which you did on that fateful night.

‘As Michael, Lillie’s brother says ”No sentence will ever be long enough.”

‘No words can come close to describing the impact of your actions and I want to state at the outset that I appreciate that the constraints upon me in this sentencing exercise – which I will explain – mean that I cannot pass upon you the sentence which you richly deserve or which comes close to punishing you properly for what you have done.

‘It will be small, if any, comfort to the Clack family or to your other victims that, since these offences, Parliament has seen fit to increase the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving and that since the end of June of 2022 that offence carries a maximum sentence of Life Imprisonment.

However, I am bound by he law as it was prior to that date.

‘I am restricted to a maximum sentence of 14 years from which I am legally bound to give you credit for your pleas of guilty.

‘Lillie Clack was the only daughter of her mother, Debbie. She was her mother’s pride and joy and her constant companion.

‘She lit up the lives of all those with whom she came into contact and was extremely hard-working. She lived her life to the full at work and at play.

‘The impact of her death upon her mother, brother, her friends and family is indescribable.

”Living without Lillie is like living without air, some days I struggle to breathe,” her mother says.

‘She is no longer able to work as she can’t be away from what she calls Lillie’s memorial garden. She spends all day there. She cannot sleep at night and is constantly tired.

‘She suffers with anxiety and depression. She says: “My heart is shattered into a million pieces…I find myself crying for most of the day.”

‘Lillie’s auntie describes Lillie as lighting up the room, a “joy to be around” , the life and soul of the family.

‘Her brother feels responsible for the death of his sister as he feels it was his role to protect her. He suffers from nightmares. He says “No sentence will be enough for what (you) did as it has ruined my life and the life of my family.”

‘There is no punishment which can compensate them for their loss or alleviate their pain. I can only reassure them that this court recognises their pain and that they have suffered the ultimate loss of a granddaughter, daughter and sister.’

Jack Watson still relives the events and has trouble sleeping at night as he experiences flashbacks when he hears Lillie’s voice.

Delia Casey had been friends with Lillie since they were children and must undergo extensive surgery and must undergo months of physio and hydrotherapy.

Hilton was found onto have had between 105 – 215mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. The legal limit for driving is 80mg/100ml.

In a statement to police, Hilton said: ‘I am devastated by Lillie Clack’s death.

‘I appreciate it will provide little comfort but I wish to offer my sincere condolences to her friends and family.

‘I hope that Delia Casey and Callum Smith also make a speedy recovery. This incident has adversely affected me and is something I have to contend with for the rest of my life. I wish to apologise to all those concerned.’

Hilton, of Hillcrest Caravan Park, Boxhill Road, Tadworth, Surrey, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving, three charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst over the legal limit and failing to stop vehicle when directed to by the police.

Judge Munro said: ‘You allowed your car to be overloaded with Delia sitting unprotected on the lap of Callum in the front passenger seat; you failed to heed the repeated requests from your passengers that you stop; you drove as you did to avoid apprehension; you failed to stop when required to do so, as a result of all of which, you not only caused Lillie’s death but seriously injured three others.

‘There is little if any mitigation beyond your guilty pleas. Of course you are sorry for what happened but that does not afford you much if any mitigation. Anyone in your position would be sorry.’

Hilton was jailed for a total of ten years and six months and will be disqualified from driving for five years upon his release.