A young driver responsible for a fatal car crash in Gloucestershire has had her prison sentence extended after an appeal. Liberty Mitchell, 21, from Chipping Norton, originally received a sentence of six years and eight months. However, following a referral by the Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, the Court of Appeal increased her sentence by two years and seven months, resulting in a total custodial term of nine years and three months.
The incident occurred on 2 December 2022, when Mitchell was driving near Aldsworth. She attempted to overtake three vehicles on the wrong side of the road at nearly 100mph in a 60mph speed limit area. This reckless manoeuvre led to a collision with a taxi, triggering a multi-vehicle pile-up.
Tragically, the taxi driver, Octavian Codreanu, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, Moyra Whelan, a history teacher, suffered life-threatening injuries and later died in hospital. In addition to these fatalities, six others were injured, three seriously, as a result of the crash.
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At the time, Mitchell, who works as a self-employed domestic cleaner, was travelling between jobs. It was later revealed her motor insurance policy did not cover business use of the vehicle. During the subsequent police investigation, authorities uncovered videos on Mitchell’s social media accounts showing her driving dangerously. One clip depicted her speeding at 100mph, while another showed her veering into oncoming traffic.
Speaking about the case, Attorney General Ellie Reeves KC MP stated:
“Liberty Mitchell’s reckless actions behind the wheel claimed the lives of two people and left many others with life-changing injuries. My deepest sympathies go to the loved ones of Octavian Codreanu and Moyra Whelan, and to all those whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy. The offender had previously filmed herself speeding and shared it on social media, showing disregard for the danger she posed to others. I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase her sentence, and I pay tribute to the emergency services who treated the injured at the scene.”
Mitchell was originally sentenced on 13 February 2026 at Gloucester Crown Court, where she pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing death whilst uninsured, and three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. She was also disqualified from driving for eight years and four months and required to pass an extended driving test before regaining her licence.
Following the Attorney General’s referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, the Court of Appeal handed down the increased sentence on 28 July 2026, reflecting the gravity of her actions and their devastating consequences.