A lorry driver who killed two men in a head-on crash has had his sentenced doubled by the Court of Appeal.

Traian Soare, a Romanian national, admitted being distracted by his sat-nav when he swerved across Jubilee Way in Dover and caused a crash which killed two Canterbury men.

The 51-year-old was at the wheel of his yellow Volvo HGV which crossed double white lines before ploughing into an oncoming Nissan Qashqai in July last year.

Victims driver Artem Larionov, 29, and pal Nikita Tsirelson, 38, both from Love Lane, Canterbury, who were in the Nissan, died at the scene.

Soare’s original sentence was referred to the Court after Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP thought it was too low.

Soare originally received a sentence of two years at Canterbury Crown Court and a driving disqualification of two years and seven months.

The Court of Appeal agreed that this was too lenient and increased his sentence to four years.

The Court also increased the driving disqualification to four years and 11 months

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said: “The families of Traian Soare’s victims have been torn apart by their losses; one victim left behind two young children who will never see their father again.

“The offender’s actions have had a devastating effect on all those involved and I am pleased that the Court has agreed to extend this sentence.”