A Dudley man responsible for the death of a teenage girl in Pensnett earlier this year has been jailed for five years.

Charlie Leigh Burgoyne, aged 17, died when the car she was a passenger in hit a wall on Tansey Green Road in the early hours of Thursday 23 May.

Arthur Pinches, from High Oak in Pensnett, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 21 June and was today sentenced to five years in prison and banned from driving for six and a half years. 

The 27-year-old was also jailed for 12 months to run concurrently for dangerous driving following an incident moments before the fatal collision when he rammed a security gate.

Following her daughter’s death, Charlie’s mother paid tribute to her ‘beautiful princess’. She said:

“Charlie was my life; she was beautiful right to her core. She is loved deeply by all of her family and friends. Charlie was a popular girl and there are people out there that truly cared for her. 

“Charlie was only 17 and may have been looked upon as a girl but I know that my daughter was heading to become a wonderful lady with a beautiful soul, such a strong character with a strong head on those shoulders."

Sergeant Dean Caswell, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, added:

“This is a truly tragic case where a young girl with her whole life ahead of her, has died at the hands of her boyfriend. Although he did not intend to kill her, his reckless driving resulted in the horrific collision which ended her life and he will have to live with that for the rest of his life.

“I’m pleased that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and spared Charlie’s family the ordeal of a trial. Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to come to terms with their loss.”