A teenager has been convicted of driving without due care and attention following a crash that left a 17 year old student dead.

Edward James, 19, was at the wheel when backseat passenger Perri McIlwraith, 17, from High Halstow, lost her life on South Lodge Bend on the A26 in Teston on May 23, last year.

Magistrates ruled on Thursday that James, of Plantation Drive, Orpington, driving was responsible for the accident, which happened just after 1am.

Perri was one of four passengers who was given a lift back to Hadlow College by James after a night out at Ikon nightclub in Maidstone.

Speaking outside court Miss McIlwraith’s father, Tony, said: “I want to know how the legal system can drag something out for this long when everyone knew it was only going to be a fine and points.”

“How can it only be a fine and points for taking someone’s life?’”