A DRIVER who killed a young woman and caused life-changing injuries to her boyfriend after an 80mph crash in a built-up area has been jailed for eight years.

Sophie Brimble, 20, from Crickhowell, died as a result of the dangerous driving of her partner Jay Bayliss and Neil Brooks who had staged a road race.

The Volkswagen Polo she and her boyfriend were travelling in smashed into lamppost in a residential area.

Brooks, aged 49, of Lansbury Terrace, Beaufort, Ebbw Vale, was jailed after he was found guilty of causing her death by dangerous driving in July 2017.

He was also convicted of causing serious injury to Mr Bayliss by dangerous driving in his Volkswagen Bora in Brynmawr following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the jury her partner was not facing the same charges because he suffered life-changing injuries in the crash.

He said: “He is not fit, nor will ever be fit, to attend court and face an allegation that he caused the death of Miss Brimble by the result of his dangerous driving.”

Mr Cobbe read out a powerful victim impact statement on behalf of Miss Brimble’s mother, Ruth Jenkins.

It said: “On July 26, 2017, our lives changed forever. Having the police officer tell us that Sophie my daughter had died left us in complete shock and for days everything was a daze.

“Having to identify Sophie’s body was hard. Having to walk into that room seeing her lying there, she looked like she was sleeping.

“I remember thinking that for a split second she looked so peaceful.

“I kissed her goodbye and stroked her face, still numb with disbelief that she was gone."

Jeffrey Jones, on behalf of father-of-three Brooks, said his client had called 999 and tried to assist both victims.

His barrister told the court: "The defendant wishes to apologise publicly, particularly to her family and friends and likewise towards Jay Bayliss."

Judge Michael Fitton QC told Brooks: “The loss of Sophie Brimble just a few months before her 21st birthday was a needless tragedy that could so easily have been avoided.

“The hurt that has been caused is incalculable. Nothing now can be done to right that awful wrong.”

Brooks is also banned from driving for nine years.