'Reckless' fatal crash driver's sentence increased

A "reckless" young driver who killed two people in a crash while speeding has had her prison sentence increased at the Court of Appeal.

Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC referred the case of Liberty Mitchell to the court under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, and it was increased from six years and eight months to nine years and three months.

Taxi driver Octavian Codreanu died at the scene and passenger Moyra Whelan died in hospital after the crash on the B4425 in Gloucestershire in December 2022.

Mitchell, 21, who passed her driving test three weeks before the crash, had admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving while uninsured.

Mitchell had been travelling 96mph in a 60mph zone seconds before impact, the original court hearing was told.

Driving a Mini Cooper, she attempted to overtake three vehicles at once before trying to abort the manoeuvre and hitting the taxi.

Whelan, a history teacher from Woodford in London, had been on the way to a wedding of one of her school friends at the time of the crash.

Mitchell also pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to the incident, which happened when she was 18.

The court also heard she had filmed herself speeding just days before the crash.

She was jailed at Gloucestershire Crown Court in December 2025, and her sentence was increased at the Court of Appeal on 28 July.

One video, posted to Snapchat, showed her speeding at 100mph, and another showed her veering to the opposite side of the road onto oncoming traffic.

Attorney General Reeves said: "Liberty Mitchell's reckless actions behind the wheel claimed the lives of two people and left many others with life-changing injuries.

"My deepest sympathies go to the loved ones of Octavian Codreanu and Moyra Whelan, and to all those whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy.

"The offender had previously filmed herself speeding and shared it on social media, showing disregard for the danger she posed to others.

"I welcome the Court of Appeal's decision to increase her sentence, and I pay tribute to the emergency services who treated the injured at the scene."

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