A woman driver who caused the death of a teenage passenger after “showing off” by hurtling along roads doing handbrake turns has been locked up for five years.
The youth custody sentence was imposed on Charlene Arnold (pictured right) amid emotional scenes following a jury’s unanimous guilty verdict on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.
The 20-year-old receptionist and cashier, of Lower Road, West Farleigh, denied the charge, claiming a fox had run out in front of her, causing her to lose control of her Ford Fiesta.
She crashed into a skip on Aylesford industrial estate, killing back seat passenger Samantha Cundall, 16, from Tovil.
Judge Martin Joy told Arnold she had been convicted on overwhelming and compelling evidence.
It was clear, he said, she had used her car “as a toy with which to play dangerous games, endangering the lives of those in the car, as well as other road users and pedestrians”.
He added: “It is only by good fortune that other deaths were prevented.”
Maidstone Crown Court heard Arnold drove Sam, a pupil at New Line Learning Academy, Loose, Sarah McKeown, Lee Goble and Yusuf “Joe” Bisgin to the industrial estate on May 6 last year.
Edmond Fowler, prosecuting, said resting lorry drivers noticed the green car screeching up and down St Michael’s Close at around 9pm.
One driver, Peter Anderson, told how he was having an early night in his cab when he heard what sounded like a low-flying aircraft.
There was then “an almighty bang”, he said, like a plane going through the sound barrier.
Witnesses found Arnold standing by her car. “She was hysterical and in tears,” said Mr Fowler.
Sam was lying across the back seat, unconscious, covered in blood. Firemen had to cut off the roof to get her out.
She was taken to hospital but her injuries were so severe she died that night.
Sarah McKeown, 16, who drove the car shortly before the crash, told how Arnold said “I will ----- you up now you mothers -----.” before “flying off” down the road.
She braced herself and could tell Arnold was going to lose control.
“Her initial laughter turned to screams as the car went sideways,” added Mr Fowler.

After the verdict, one of Arnold's supporters claimed she was innocent and the guilty verdict was "based on lies".