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The man who has admitted causing the deaths of three boys who were hit by the car he was driving in Hayes is appearing in court for sentencing on Wednesday morning.

Jaynesh Chudasama, from Hayes - who was more than two-and-a-half-times the drink-drive limit at the time of the tragedy - pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving at the Old Bailey on Monday February 26.

The court previously heard how the 28-year-old, who also had traces of cannabis in his system, was behind the wheel of an Audi A5, driving at 71mph on a 60mph road, when he hit the three teenage friends.

Semi-professional footballer Harry Louis Rice, 17, apprentice electrician George Toby Wilkinson, 16, and labourer Josh McGuinness, 16, died instantly.

Jaynesh Chudasama, 28, of Hayes, has admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving

Get West London has live updates from the sentencing hearing on Wednesday morning.

Tributes to the victims

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See list of Audi driver's previously run-ins with the law

Audi driver, Jaynesh Chudasama, who caused the death of three teenage boys when he crashed into them in Hayes had three previous runs-ins with police.

Read more: https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/hayes-fatal-crash-audi-driver-14467182

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Sentencing could have been higher

The judge noted that had the offence occurred prior to a rule change in sentencing guidelines, she would have given him just 10% credit for his guilty plea.

Since June 2017, the guidelines have been that all guilty pleas offered at the first available opportunity should mean a reduction in the sentence of a third.

The judge said:

Had this offence taken place six weeks earlier, I would have given him no more than 10% credit for his pleas.

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Consecutive or concurrent

The Judge made lengthy comments on whether a consecutive or concurrent statement would be most appropriate in this case.

She believed that this case was highly irregular in the number of aggravating factors in addition to the three young lives taken away and so was suitable for a concurrent sentence.

However, under the principle of totality, she could not give consecutive sentences at the higher limit for the charge as it would add up to a sentence that was not appropriate.

Taking into account the mandatory reduction of a third due to his guilty pleas, she decided to hand down three concurrent sentences of 13 years each.

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Could have been more victims

I note that when the collision occurred, Harry, Josh and George were walking within feet of two other boys and within yards of 3 girls.

The lives of all 8 were in danger.

The judge noted that although three lives were lost, the actions of Chudasama could easily have led to five further deaths.

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"Bat out of hell"

The judge, in explaining the facts of the case referenced the evidence given by the driver, who Chudasama had overtaken.

She said that the 60 mile per hour speed limit was not suitable, and added that the place he had chosen for the manoeuvre was particularly dangerous.

He had decided to overtake the driver at a bend, using a right turn filter lane which is for turning into the petrol pump.

There were also a number of bollards reading “Keep Left”, when he chose to overtake.

The judge also referenced that there were street lights that were not functioning and overhanging greenery from the cemetery which made the manoeuvre even more dangerous.

The driver described him as coming “like a bat out of hell”.

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Reaction to the sentence

Despite an emotional and at times loud day in court, Josh, Harry and George’s family and friends had a subdued response to the sentence.

The judge repeatedly acknowledged the extreme loss and suffering brought upon the families of the boys by Chudasama.

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The final sentence

After very lengthy sentencing remarks, the judge has handed Jaynesh Chudasama three concurrent sentences of 13 years each.

He is also banned from driving for 23 years and six months, after which he will have to take an extended driving test.

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Jail term handed down to Jaynesh Chudasama

The driver who admitted causing the deaths of three teenage boys when he crashed his car in Hayes has been handed a 13-year prison sentence.

Read the full story here.

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13 YEARS

After a lengthy statement the judge has decided to hand down three 13-year prison sentences, to be served concurrently.

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Devastated mother lashes out at guilty driver

The devastated mother of Hayes crash victim, Josh McGuinness, told the driver behind her son’s death he would “rot in hell”.

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Judge enters

Judge Wendy Joseph QC has explained that he has a “long, long set of sentencing remarks” and asks for patience.

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Sentence expected soon

Josh, George and Harry’s family have gathered in the court and Jaynesh Chudasama is about to be led in.

The sentence is expected within the next few moments.

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Break in proceedings

The judge has finished hearing from the prosecution and defence and the court has cleared.

The sentence is expected at 2pm.

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Chudasama wished "he'd died instead of the boys"

During the mitigation, Chudasama’s lawyer told the court that he’s said on numerous occasions he “wishes it was him that died instead of the three boys”.

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"Good character"

The court has received more than 45 letters from people who know Chudasama, speaking to his good character.

However the judge has responded that none of them made reference of his speeding or alcohol consumption.

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Another outburst

Leala Gaskin, for defence, suggested that the prison term should be eight years, to which there was another outburst from the family.

The judge has indicated the lady will not be allowed back in.

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Family members kicked out of court

Jaynesh Chudasama was taken out of the gallery following an outburst from some family members in the well of the court.

They have been escorted out of the courtroom.

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Prosecution asks for consecutive sentences

Crispin Aylett QC, speaking for the prosecution has asked the judge to consider consecutive sentences to reflect the number of people killed and the nature of their death.

That would mean each sentence would begin after the previous one finished.

He has pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

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Previous criminal matters

Jaynesh Chudasama’s previous convictions and cautions were read to the court.

  • January 2012 - Cautioned for possession by theft
  • March 2013 - Cautioned for possession of cannabis
  • Late 2013 - Convicted of battery after a fight at block of flats in Uxbridge
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Head bowed

The proceedings so far have been very emotional, with frequent sobs from family and friends as well as those delivering statements to the court.

Throughout the statements, Jaynesh Chudasama has kept his head bowed throughout the past hour.

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George's stepmother remembers her "hero"

Funny, caring, lovely, loveable.

That is how George’s stepmother Stacey described him to the court.

How can anyone get over that he is never coming home.

When that man decided to get behind the wheel, he had our boy’s fate in his hands.

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"Mowed down"

Harry’s father Ian expressed his unhappiness with the way police have handled the case in a heavily redacted statement.

He told the court that the prosecutor had removed sections of his statement just an hour before court proceedings began.

He mowed down three innocent boys.

The death toll could easily have been eight or possibly even more.

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"Make an example of him"

Tracy Blackwell, in her victim impact statement, said Chudasama should be made an example of and that the families were campaigning for a change in the law.

As she stepped down, she looked at Chudasama in the dock and said “You’re going to rot in hell mate.”

She told the court:

He chose to hit our children at this speed when they were walking on the pavement, where they should have been safe.

He chose to run away like a coward.

I truly believe he would not be in this country if he had been able to get away.”

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Protest outside court

Family and friends of the three young victims gathered outside the Old Bailey earlier, bearing placards demanding ‘Justice for our Boys’. You can read more about that here.

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Sarah Baker, George's mother, speaks to the court

George’s mother has given an impassioned and teary victim impact statement.

I kept thinking he would make an amazing husband and father.

That night was the longest night of our lives as we waited to hear what had happened.

No parent expects their child to go before them.”

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Streetlights

The other driver, who was overtaken by Chudasama, was driving at 30 mph, the court hears.

He said that he used the road on his way to and from work and lived locally.

He said that there were several streetlights on the road which were not working for several months.

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Family, judge and public enter the court

Judge Wendy Joseph QC, the public and friends and family of the boys have entered the court and proceedings will begin any moment now.

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Jaynesh Chudasama is in the courtroom

Jaynesh Chudasama, the 28-year-old from Hayes who killed three teenage boys when he crashed his Audi in Shepiston Lane, has been brought into the courtroom.

He was accompanied by three custody officers.

Chudasama is wearing a grey shirt and sporting a longer beard than his police custody photo.

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