A man who caused a terrifying motorway crash that led to the death of a deaf teenager has walked free from court.

Victim Sarah Davies survived the accident - but was then hit by another car when she walked into the road to warn other motorists.

Simon Allen was fined £1,500 and banned from driving for two years after he was cleared of dangerous driving and convicted of careless driving.

The jury was not told until after returning verdicts that 19-year-old Miss Davies was killed during the incident on the M25 at Darenth two years ago.

A judge said Allen’s driving was "lamentable" and had horrific consequences. But he added: "The fact is, however, my powers are constrained in the light of the jury’s verdict."

Allen, of Edith Road, Southend, Essex, faced a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment if convicted of dangerous driving. The maximum sentence for careless driving is a £2,500 fine.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Miss Davies was in a Renault Clio driven by her close friend Lauren Smith, then 18, in the early hours of September 17, 2006. Miss Smith's brother Lee was also a passenger.

All had hearing problems. They had driven from Romford, where they lived, to a pub in Dartford that held functions for the deaf.

John O’Higgins, prosecuting, said Miss Smith was driving in the middle lane at 50mh when Allen, travelling with his girlfriend in a Rover ZR at about 70mph, crashed into the back of her.

Mr O'Higgins said Allen, 41, did not see the Clio until it was too late. He swerved at the last moment and lost control, hitting the Clio, causing it to spin. Both cars came to rest on the central reservation, pointing in the opposite direction.

Miss Smith had only held a full licence for seven months and had not driven on a motorway before.

Allen denied dangerous driving. He admitted careless driving - but the jury was still asked to return a verdict on the charge.