Female driver, 21, who killed two in crash after filming herself speeding on Snapchat has sentence increased

Published: 12:58, 29 July 2026 | Updated: 12:59, 29 July 2026 A young driver who killed two people in a crash after filming herself speeding on Snapchat has had her sentence increased. Liberty Mitchell, 21, was travelling at 96mph when she crashed her Mini Cooper into three other cars. She had attempted to overtake three vehicles at once before trying to abort the manoeuvre and hitting a taxi. Cab driver Octavian Codreanu and his passenger, school teacher Moyra Whelan were killed in the crash.  Several others were taken to hospital after Mitchell's actions caused a pile-up. Some sustained life-changing injuries.  Mitchell had recently turned 18 at the time of the crash in 2022 and had passed her driving test just three weeks prior.  Yesterday, Mitchell's sentence was increased to nine years and three months - after the Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, referred her case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Seven months ago, Mitchell had been sentenced to six years and eight months at Gloucester Crown Court. She pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing death whilst uninsured, and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.  Mitchell filmed herself speeding before killing two people in a crash just three weeks after passing her driving test Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving whilst uninsured The crash, which involved Mitchell's grey Mini Cooper, a black Audi A3, a grey Polestar 2 and a black Seat Leon, happened on the B4425 near Aldsworth in Gloucestershire Mitchell, of Chipping Norton, was also disqualified from driving for eight years and four months, with a requirement to take an extended driving test before regaining her licence.  Police investigations found that Mitchell had regularly been using her phone whilst driving, despite having such a new licence. A video taken by Mitchell showed her filming her face with a filter while driving before turning the camera around and watching the speedometer increase. Other videos show Mitchell's lack of care for driving safely, with one showing her driving at 100mph on a 60mph county road and another showing her veering onto the opposite side of the road towards an oncoming car as friends shouted for her to stop. The Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP said: 'Liberty Mitchell's reckless actions behind the wheel claimed the lives of two people and left many others with life-changing injuries. 'My deepest sympathies go to the loved ones of Octavian Codreanu and Moyra Whelan, and to all those whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy. 'The offender had previously filmed herself speeding and shared it on social media, showing disregard for the danger she posed to others. 'I welcome the Court of Appeal's decision to increase her sentence, and I pay tribute to the emergency services who treated the injured at the scene.' At Gloucester Crown Court in December, Mitchell was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison Schoolteacher Moyra Whelan (pictured) was on her way to a wedding when the taxi she was in was hit by Mitchell's Mini Cooper Gloucester Crown Court previously heard injuries suffered by those in the crash included a fractured hip, broken ribs, severe abdominal wounds and shattered bones protruding through the skin. Nicola Cooper, one of the passengers in the taxi, said: 'The crash itself was traumatic, the impact felt endless. 'I live with survivor's guilt and the trauma of losing one of my closest friends, Moyra, who was sitting just inches from me. 'I lie awake at night thinking about the "what ifs".' Katy-Louise Whelan, Ms Whelan's younger sister, said: 'She had so much left that she wanted to experience... but the opportunity was stolen from her and we are devastated. 'I'm still absolutely incredulous that she is not with us any more. 'It's like the light of the world is dimmed and we will never be able to turn it back on again. 'One aspect that haunts me is that my sister died violently... I'm truly devastated that my beautiful, innocent sister was subjected to that.' Simon Stirling, defending, suggested Mitchell's actions were a result of 'inexperience rather than irresponsibility'. He said Mitchell had only recently passed her driving test and would not have understood the risk of the manoeuvre she was attempting. Judge Lowe said: 'At the time of this collision, you had held a full driving licence for less than three weeks. 'You were, at the time, a reckless and immature young driver suffering from the, frankly common, teenage delusion that you were invulnerable and free to do as you wished. 'The lives of all the victims and their families have been irrevocably changed.'