'Show off' driver who killed passenger jailed

A dangerous driver who killed his brother's girlfriend while "showing off" the speed of his new car has been jailed for 12 years.

Gavin Hall, 39, ignored pleas to slow down and reached more than 90mph in "atrocious" conditions in the souped-up Audi S3 he had bought only an hour earlier, Newcastle Crown Court.

Lois Davidson, 27, was killed and two other passengers were seriously injured when Hall lost control near Washington, Sunderland, in October 2020.

Hall, of Jarrow, South Tyneside, who was also wounded, had denied any offending but was found guilty of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

The father of three, described as a "petrolhead" by his friends, had collected the car at about 21:15 GMT on 3 October, prosecutor Andrew Espley said.

The vehicle had been "enhanced" by a previous owner for use on race tracks, with its brake horsepower increased from 265 to between 350 and 360, the court heard.

Hall immediately took his brother and their two partners out for a "spin" in "atrocious" weather, which included "incessant" and "torrential" sleet-type rain, Judge Nathan Adams said.

After reaching speeds of 90mph on the southbound A194(M), the car span out of control at about 22:30, hitting the central reservation and a tree.

"[The car] was almost totally destroyed," Judge Adams said, adding: "It is remarkable anybody was able to get out of that vehicle alive."

Ms Davidson was killed instantly while Hall's partner suffered multiple bone fractures which left her "bedbound" for months, the court heard.

Mr Espley said the crash was "caused by Hall's desire to show off a new, overpowered car he had virtually no experience of driving".

He also said Hall, of Ellen Court, made "deliberate decisions" to ignore the rules of the road and showed "disregard" to the safety of others.

There was also "persistent disregard of warnings" from Hall's passengers, which included his brother twice knocking the car out of gear in an attempt to slow him down, Mr Espley said.

In a statement read to the court, Ms Davidson's family said they were "broken" by her death.

They said she was "vivacious" and "loved her life and everyone in it", adding she had big plans for herself that had been "wiped out" by Hall.

Ms Davison was described as a "deep-thinker" and "beautiful, fun-loving, charismatic, kind, intelligent, artistic, thoughtful and fiercely protective of her family".

The family said the four-year wait for the case to be resolved had been "unbearable" and during that time Hall had been able to "live life as normal", including driving.

Hall has multiple previous convictions for serious violence and dishonesty crimes, the court was told, as well as a "very poor record" of driving offences, including for speeding two years after the crash.

Judge Adams said it was "quite remarkable" Hall was speeding again, doing 35 in a 30mph zone in March 2022, and other previous offences showed he was "in the habit of showing off" in cars.

The court heard Hall will serve eight years in jail before being automatically released on licence.

He was also banned from driving for 12 years and will have to take an extended driving test before being allowed a licence again.

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