A banned driver high on drugs has been jailed for 12 years and nine months after causing the death of his girlfriend in a head-on collision while being pursued by police at speeds of up to 136mph. Kane Farragher, 24, from Birkenhead but of no fixed address, admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Newcastle Crown Court.
The court heard that Farragher was driving a BMW on the A19 near Sunderland in the early hours of March 1 when he crashed head-on into a taxi. His girlfriend, Taylor Jenkins, was killed in the impact, and a friend in the back seat suffered serious injuries. Farragher was largely unhurt, trapped by the airbag.
Blood tests taken after the crash showed Farragher was excessively over the legal limits for cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy and ketamine. His reading for a breakdown of cocaine was around 14 times the legal limit, 12 times over the MDMA limit, more than twice the limit for ketamine, and 40% over the limit for cannabis.
The court was told that Farragher had been disqualified from driving in 2023 and had a previous conviction for dangerous driving. He initially denied being the driver but later pleaded guilty. Judge Penny Moreland described his driving as 'the most dangerous driving one can imagine' and banned him from driving for 13 and a half years.
In victim impact statements, Taylor Jenkins' family described her as a keen showjumper who was loving and hard-working. Her father, William Jenkins, said: 'Her loss is beyond anything I can bear.' Her sister, Ellis Jenkins, added: 'The impact of losing her is something I will carry with me forever.'
