A TEENAGE driver from Essex who was jailed for his part in a crash that killed three young friends has had his sentence reduced.

Elliot Furniss

A TEENAGE driver from Essex who was jailed for his part in a crash that killed three young friends has had his sentence reduced.

Christopher Kibble, 19, has successfully appealed to have his term reduced from six to eight years at London's Criminal Appeal Court.

The teenager was 17 and had been driving for just 10 days when his Ford Escort was involved in a collision with a tree after a pursuit along a country road in May 2007.

The three boys who were passengers in his car, Christopher Jolley, of Little Maplestead, Danny Archer, of Sible Hedingham, and Richard Warren, of Halstead, all 15, were killed.

The driver of the other car involved, Sakir Olgun, a Turkish national, was pursuing Kibble after one of his young passengers refused to pay for takeaway food that had been delivered to the group.

Olgun, 27, worked in a fast food restaurant in Halsted and was living in the UK illegally.

He fled to London after the crash but was later arrested and, along with Kibble, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Kibble, of Hawkwood Road, Sible Hedingham, and Olgun, of Tottenham, North London, were both given eight year sentences after being found guilty during a joint trial at Chelmsford Crown Court last September.

Both men were banned from driving for 10 years by Judge Charles Gratwicke and Olgun was told he would be deported to Turkey upon his release.

During the appeal hearing on Thursday, Kibble's barrister, Kate Davey, claimed the teenager had been punished too harshly for his “youthful, silly actions”.

Kibble's sentence was cut by Mrs Justice Swift, sitting with Sir Anthony May and Mrs Justice Rafferty.

Mrs Justice Swift said the panel felt the judge had been justified in putting the teenager in a higher sentencing bracket but felt there was also mitigation.

She said: “There was also mitigation, in his youth, his lack of experience and his lack of previous convictions and the contribution of others: his passengers, who were in effect using him as a getaway driver, and Olgun.”