NATALIE FORDE

A teenage car thief who killed a promising young City lawyer and a cab driver when he ploughed into a taxi in a stolen BMW during a police chase was today sentenced to eight years youth custody.

Trainee solicitor Natalie Forde, 26, and cabbie Aden Yusuf Gure, 46, died when 17-year-old Patrick O'Leary, who had already been banned from driving, hit the cab as he raced through red lights on the North Circular at speeds of up to 90mph during the early hours of April 28.

Ms Forde, who was in the Citroen cab with her fiancee Simon Baynes, died when the stolen silver BMW 520 smashed into it at the junction of Bowes Road and Brownlow Road in Haringey.

Today as he was sentenced to serve eight years youth custody for each of the deaths, to be served concurrently, it emerged that O'Leary had been banned from driving for 12 months three days before and sentenced to a community service order for driving whilst disqualified.

O'Leary, of Wembley, who is likely to serve only four years, has five previous offences including driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and theft.

Blood tests on O'Leary, who was also taken to hospital, showed traces of cannabis and cocaine.

He had been drinking "significantly" during the day but was under the limit according to the tests.

Judge Shaun Lyons told O'Leary: "Nothing can more adequately demonstrate what can happen when cars are misused.

"This is without a doubt a bad case.

I am quite sure the loss of loved ones will stay with the familes for the rest of their lives.

"It's clearly plain to me that you were an accident waiting to happen - and you did."

O'Leary, who pleaded guilty, was given a total sentence of 19 years and six months to run concurrently, including three years for the GBH and six months for the driving offence.

He was also banned from driving for ten years.

Prosecutor Mark Seymour said O'Leary and his two passengers were involved in a row at a wedding in Tottenham and took off in a stolen BMW after a row with other guests.

Police tried to stop the car but but O'Leary sped off the officers in pursuit.

As they raced along the North Circular with O'Leary jumping red traffic lights at speeds of up to 90mph he smashed into the cab at the junction with Brownlow Road.

Mr Seymour said the BMW drove "seen to be driving erratically and rapidly", driving over a mini-roundabout, braking sharply to avoid collisions and veering onto the wrong side of the road.

As the pursuing officers came over a hill they could see the stolen vehicle about 300 yards in front of them as they approached the junction.

Mr Seymour said: "Mr Gure was in a position to turn right at the junction. Witnesses who saw the Citroen taxi said the vehicle never stood a chance.

It was an extremely nasty scene."

Miss Forde and Mr Gure, a 46 year old father of four, also from Wembley, were rushed to hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.

But after today's hearing Miss Forde's parents Teresa and Kevin Forde fought back tears as they called for an investigation into the police chase.

In a statement issued through their lawyers, they said: "Natalie was a talented young woman who was committed to a career in the law.

"She was a very precious and loving daughter.

To lose her and in such circumstances has been completely devastating to our family.

"We are disappointed with the sentence given to Mr O'Leary and do not feel that justice has been done - we are also disappointed that the punishments for his previous crimes were clearly not a sufficient deterrent.

"However, we are not satisfied that it was his recklessness alone that killed Natalie and we call for a full investigation into the actions of the police who we believe may carry some responsibility for the tragedy."

"The family would also like to clarify, for reporting purposes, that they do not believe that Natalie would have got out of the taxi at the accident location and that they believe it is more likley that she was killed in the taxi where the accident happened."

They refused to comment further.

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