TWO learner drivers who caused the death of 21-year-old passenger Ella Smith as they raced each other have each been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Emma Price and Jago Clarke, both now 21, were on trial over a fatal crash on the B4341 at Portfield Gate, near Haverfordwest, on the evening of June 13, 2021.

Miss Smith, who was a passenger in the Ford Ka driven by Clarke, died in the crash, while Daisy Buck, the passenger in a Seat Ibiza travelling in the opposite direction to the defendants, was seriously injured.

Although the Citroen C1 driven by Price was not directly involved in the crash, the jury heard she had been driving competitively at high speed with Clarke, which contributed to the crash.

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They were both charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and causing death by driving whilst unlicensed and uninsured.

Clarke, of Sunningdale Drive in Hubberston, Milford Haven, had pleaded guilty on the day of trial to causing death by driving a vehicle whilst unlicensed and uninsured. He denied the other charges, while Price, of Holloway in Haverfordwest, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

They were both found guilty of all charges by a jury on December 20.

At a hearing on January 19, Judge Paul Thomas KC sentenced both defendants to a total of 10 years imprisonment.

Before the defendants were sentenced, Maria Smith – Ella’s mum – paid tribute to her daughter, describing her as “kind, considerate and helpful” and the “life and soul of the party”.

“We were complete as a family of five, and now we must live as a family of four because of you Jago Clarke and you Emma Price,” she said.

“You have robbed us of our darling girl and her future, robbed her of happiness and altered our lives in a way we will never recover from.”

Speaking about Ella’s siblings, Mrs Smith said: “What they have lost cannot be measured. Their friend has gone. Their sister is gone. Part of them died with her.”

Ella’s dad, Adrian Smith, is a firefighter and was on duty and attended the crash. He told the court that that experience still “haunts” him.

“I couldn’t be there for her that day. I couldn’t help her. I couldn’t reassure her. I couldn’t hold her. I couldn’t save her,” he said.

“Ella was 21, she had her life ahead of her and has lost so much.

“She will never have the chance to get married, I will never be able to walk her down the aisle, she will never get the chance to look amazing in her wedding dress. Ella will never become a mum and I will never be a grandfather to Ella’s children.

“On June 13, 2021, everything died, and that pain is enormous.”

Miss Buck told the court that she had spent 16 days in three hospitals and had five surgeries as a result of the injuries she suffered in the crash.

“These surgeries have not only left scars emotionally, but also physically,” she said.

“I was unable to care for myself, was completely immobile, and required a wheelchair to move around my house.

“We should’ve never have gone through this.”

Rowan Fair, the driver of the Seat Ibiza, said: “There are images in my mind of the scene of the accident that will never be erased.”

Talking about Miss Buck’s injuries, he said: “We were all so frightened she would also die.

“Her pain was my pain. Seeing her suffer was intolerable at times.”

Dyfed Thomas, representing Price, said the defendant had no previous convictions, was 19 at the time of the crash, and that there had been a 23-month delay between the incident and when Price appeared in the Magistrates’ Court.

“You are sentencing a young mother of soon to be two young children,” he said, adding that Price had a one-year-old child and was pregnant with a second child.

Jon Tarrant, appearing for Clarke, said: “I can assure the court of his regret and remorse.”

“It’s a shame then that remorse was not translated in to a guilty plea,” Judge Thomas replied.

“He has never sought to mitigate or deflect blame,” Mr Tarrant continued.

“His only issue is that he did not know what he had done. The consequence of what he had done was quite clearly devastating.”

Sentencing the pair, Judge Thomas said: “Cars kill, especially when driven by young people showing off – which you two were with no thought for the risk you put people at.

“On that day an accident was almost inevitable.

“Ella Smith had everything to live for. She was only 21 with a life full of promise and love.

“Daisy Buck, the impact on her again is huge.

“It was racing between the two of you. Competitive driving over the distance of several miles. – dicing with each other.

“You are both equally culpable.

“You, Jago Clarke, were showing off. Playing the big man.

“You, Emma Price, were also unqualified and uninsured. You entered in to competitive driving with Jago Clarke with enthusiasm.

“You lied through your teeth when giving evidence. You tried to blame others, such as Rowan Fair. You took not one iota of responsibility. You displayed an arrogance and lack of sympathy giving your evidence.”

He sentenced them both to a total of 10 years, and banned them from driving for a total of 11 years each. They will both have to pass an extended retest.

Judge Thomas offered his condolences to the Smith family.