A teenager who caused the death of an elderly woman and her daughter by his dangerous driving has had his sentence slashed from five years to just three.

Jamie Smith, of Alamein Avenue, Chatham, had only been qualified to drive for a matter of months when he lost control of his car and hit Elsie Blades, 84, and her 60-year-old daughter, Marilyn Herlihy as they crossed Station Road, Strood, in July 2009.

The 19-year-old (pictured right) pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving at Maidstone Crown Court in June last year.

He was sentenced to five years detention in a young offender’s institution, as well as being banned from the road for seven years.

But that sentence has now been cut to three years by Lord Justice Aikens, Mr Justice Irwin and Judge Jeremy Roberts QC at London’s Criminal Appeal Court.

Smith lost control of his Seat Ibiza car on a bend and it hit the two women, who had been out for a walk.

Lawyers for Smith argued he had been treated too harshly by Judge Andrew Patience at Maidstone Crown Court.

It was said the judge had placed the offences in too high a sentencing bracket given the lack of serious aggravating features, beyond the deaths themselves.

Allowing the appeal, Mr Justice Irwin, said the crash had been caused by mis-judgment, rather than reckless or deliberately dangerous driving.

He also pointed out Smith’s very young age at the time of the offence - he was only nine days past his 18th birthday - the "deep and genuine remorse" he felt for what he had done and the fact that he "behaved properly" after the accident and co-operated with the police.

Smith’s seven-year driving ban was also cut to four years.

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