Family of Courtney White react as killer driver is jailed

Lewis Clark, 20, was sentenced to three years and eight months in a young offender institution for killing mother of one Courtney White, 23, in a crash on the A3049 Canford Way in December 2021.

Speaking to the Echo after the hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, January 13, Courtney's mother Jasmine Moores said while she believed the sentence was too lenient, she felt she had closure.

“Nothing will ever bring Courtney back,” she said.

“Justice hasn’t been done but now we’ve got some closure and now I can start to grieve properly.”

Courtney White (Image: Jasmine Moores)

Several members of Courtney’s family were present at the hearing and sobbed when details of her tragic death were read out.

Three victim impact statements were read aloud by prosecutor Stuart Ellacott on behalf of Ms Moores, Courtney’s father Joseph White and her sister Alice White.

Ms Moores’ victim statement said: “My daughter had her whole life ahead of her.

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“We will never see her get married, she will never see her daughter’s first day of school. We will never get to spend another Christmas together.”

Addressing Clark, Ms Moores’ statement continued: “We are living a nightmare every day. It is your fault. So many lives are ruined because of you.

“You have shattered our lives.”

Flowers left at the scene of hit and run crash which killed Courtney White on the A3049 Canford Way (Image: Newsquest)

She also said how Ms White’s daughter still cries out for “her mummy” and is afraid of the dark without her being there.

Courtney’s father Joseph said: “I wish I could swap places with my beautiful daughter. She was my first born, my first love.

“They have ruined my life.”

Alice White said how Christmas was her sister’s favourite time of year and described her death as “entirely preventable”. The family had visited Bournemouth’s Christmas Tree Wonderland in the Lower Gardens on the day of Courtney’s death.

Funeral of Courtney White

Clark was said to be “utterly remorseful” for his actions. Defence barrister Tim Bradbury said: “He would do anything to put the clocks back but, of course, he cannot and he must face the consequences of his actions.”

He was sentenced to three years and eight months immediate custody in a young offender institution. He was also disqualified from driving for four years and ten months.

Ms Moores is now the guardian of Courtney’s daughter Evie who will start school in September. “She’s a happy little girl and we’re going to continue making her happy,” Ms Moores said. “She looks so much like her mum.”

The family also thanked Dorset Police for their handling of the case.