TWO inexperienced drivers have been sent to a young offenders’ institution for causing the death of a teenage girl in an A14 horror crash.

Perri Daniel and Gavin Sahota were both found guilty of causing the death of former Copleston High School, Ipswich, pupil Sian Ryan, 16, by dangerous driving following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court on June 9.

Yesterday, at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge David Goodin sentenced both Daniel, 20, of Upper Cavendish Street, Ipswich, and Sahota, 19, of Stewart Young Grove, Kesgrave, to three years in a young offenders’ institution.

They were both also disqualified from driving for three years.

Sian, of Alan Road, Ipswich, was the front-seat passenger in Daniel’s Citroen Saxo when it span out of control and crashed on the A14, colliding with a road sign at Nacton on August 17 last year.

With only seven months’ driving experience between them, Daniel weaved across the road while Sahota performed a dangerous “undertaking” manoeuvre in his Audi A3 before the vehicles collided.

Speaking outside court yesterday, Sian’s mother Chrissie Ryan said the case should act as an important message to other young drivers in control of a “lethal weapon.”

“This sends a very important message to young people driving. I will never get my baby back but if this can help save at least one life, some good will have come of this nightmare,” she said.

“It is over now – we can enjoy sharing all of our wonderful memories of Sian without the dark cloud that has been hanging over us.”

And Pc Andrew Fossey, of Suffolk police’s serious collision investigation team, added: “This highlights the dangers of people mucking about on the roads.

“A moment of madness is all it takes for the waste of a young life who obviously had so much to live for.”

Sentencing, Judge Goodin said: “No sentence of this court can restore Sian to her family and friends and no words of mine can mitigate their loss and the grief that will live with them forever. Sian died as a passenger of your car, Perri Daniel, from the consequences of your dangerous driving and of yours, Gavin Sahota.

“Neither of you intended the terrible consequences of that course of driving that ended with Sian’s death.

“You were both young, inexperienced drivers behind the wheel of powerful motor cars. The driving of each of you encouraged the other.

“At the end of it all, Perri Daniel, you lost a friend you had known for ten years and you, Gavin Sahota, a young girl you admired and with whom you hoped to begin a romantic relationship.”

Christopher Paxton said his client, Daniel, had struggled to come to terms with the loss of her best friend and had resorted to thoughts of self-harm.

He said: “Miss Daniel knows she was the driver of the vehicle in which her friend was killed. Time will not diminish the burden she will carry.

“It may be felt by others Miss Daniel has not shown signs of remorse, that is far from the reality.”

Sahota was also sentenced for making threats to kill at Liquid nightclub in Ipswich while on bail over the tragedy.

He pleaded guilty to threatening a nightclub manager with a kitchen knife in the early hours of May 3.

Judge Goodin sentenced him to five months’ extra detention for the offence.