A SOUTHALL man has been jailed for causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal crash in August 2016.

Craig Kearney, 27, of McNair Road, was sentenced to eight years at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

He admitted causing death by dangerous driving, having previously pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

The judge also imposed a 10-year driving ban and ordered Kearney to re-sit an extended driving test.

The court heard how, in August 2016 at around 3.05am, police were called to Groom Crescent, near HMP Wandsworth, following reports of a drone being flown near the prison grounds.

Officers arrived and a silver Peugeot was seen to leave the scene. They followed and saw it hit a lamp post in Wandsworth Bridge Road.

The passenger, Acacia Smith, from Southall, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kearney, who was driving the car, was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

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After being discharged, he was arrested and eventually charged.

Det Con Sejal Unadkat, who led the investigation, said: "This was a tragic death caused by an individual driving without any thought for the safety of himself or those around him.

"Kearney was found to have been driving at speeds of between 87 and 91mph in a residential road.

"Nothing will bring Ms Smith back, but I hope the sentence brings some measure of comfort to her family."

The victim's grandfather, Lester Smith, said: "It took Craig a long time to admit to his guilt, but finally he's told the truth. Losing Acacia is something we will always have to live with and, although it doesn't bring her back, we have gained some kind of justice in today's sentencing.

"Caysha had her whole life ahead of her. I watched her grown into the strong, amazing young lady she became. She had dreams of getting her driving licence, running her own nursery business and going travelling.

"She showed so much love, lit up the room when she entered and you always knew Caysha was in the house. I miss her every day.”