Teenager pleads guilty to causing deaths of five people, including three children, by dangerous driving after Leeds car collision

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A 15-year-old boy has admitted causing death by dangerous driving after five people were killed when he crashed a car into a tree in Leeds.

The scene of the incident, which happened just before 10pm on 25 November in the Meanwood area of the city, was described as “nightmarish” and “total carnage” by emergency services.

The Renault Clio, which had been stolen a few hours earlier, was reduced to a crumpled mess of metal when the driver lost control and crashed.

Ellis Thornton-Kimmitt, 12, his brother, Elliott, 14, and Darnell Harte, 15, were killed in the collision. Anthoney Armour, 24, a father of two, and Robbie Meerun, 24, were also killed. All of the victims were passengers in the car.

The driver, who cannot be named because he is a minor, appeared at Leeds crown court by video link on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to five counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

At a previous hearing, he wept in the dock as the details of the collision were given to the court.

Sentencing is expected to take place on 26 January. The judge, Peter Collier QC, the recorder of Leeds, told the boy he could expect to receive a lengthy custodial sentence.

West Yorkshire police previously said the car had been stolen in the Headingley area of Leeds about three hours before the crash on Stonegate Road, Meanwood.

David Holderness, of the Crown Prosecution Service, described the crash as “a truly shocking crime”. “The defendant acted in a supremely dangerous way, driving erratically and at great speed in a residential area,” he said.

“Tragically, his victims paid the price of the driver’s utter irresponsibility with their lives. Our thoughts remain with their families and friends, and I hope the driver’s admission of guilt today is of some comfort to them in their grief.”

After the crash, a shrine of flowers, balloons, candles and messages quickly began to grow at the scene. Speaking at the time, Louise Thornton, 34, known as the brothers’ godmother or Aunty Lou, said there were no words to describe the loss of the two “cheeky chappies”.

“Elliott was very loving and very trusting. He was so proud of his family, his mum and dad and his two sisters, Ebony, 16, and Bronte, five,” she said. “Ellis was the youngest and he looked up to Elliott and Ebony as well.

“We are just devastated. We can’t believe they have both gone as that just doesn’t happen. We were so proud of the boys. They will be hugely missed by the family.

“It will leave a huge, devastating void. As a family we have already been through so much.”