A man who binged on cocaine for 18 hours before killing two pedestrians in a road collision, then left the scene with a suitcase OF £72,000 in cash, has been jailed for more than 12 years.

Richard Frost, 39, was driving his BMW X5 dangerously and at high speed when it left the road, mounted a grass verge and killed Thomas Fletcher, 19, and Thomas Northam, 22, in January last year.

The pair had been walking out of Yaxley towards Farcet, facing traffic, at about 11am, when they were hit from behind by Frost’s vehicle which had crossed onto the wrong side of the road.

Following the crash on the B1091, Frost, of Dorset Avenue, Chelmsford, continued driving along the grass verge for 80 metres, before returning to the carriageway and leaving the road into a field on the opposite side.

He then fled the scene with a suitcase containing £72,000 in cash, which he dumped in a residential garden and was later recovered by a police officer.

PC James Thorne, who investigated, said: “This was the worst piece of driving I have ever, and probably will ever, see.

“Frost drove his X5 in a manner which was beyond dangerous and placed an untold amount of people at risk of serious injury.

“The offence was only exacerbated by his drug taking for 18 hours prior to the collision.

“Frost robbed a vast number of family and friends of two young men who were going about their own, lawful business.

“The sentence passed today does not, nor does it intend to, reflect the value that society places on life.

“Sadly, no sentence will ever bring back these two young men but I hope this result today will give their families and friends some comfort to know that justice has been done.”

Judge Farrell, sentencing, confirmed a further proceeds of crime hearing will take place on June 8 to discuss what happens to the money Frist was in possession of at the time of the collision.

Cambridge Crown Court heard that in the hours leading up to the collision Frost was seen and recorded driving at speeds of over 100mph, overtaking cars into oncoming traffic and undertaking using footpaths and pedestrian walkways.

At 9.39am, an average speed camera on the A16 near Crowland recorded the BMW as averaging 117mph over 1.3 miles.

The court heard that Frost was pursued by a member of the public who realised he was fleeing the scene of a collision.

The man followed Frost into a property in Broadway but was punched as the latter fled back out into the street.

Frost was arrested at 10.45pm that night after being found asleep at his mother’s house in Chelmsford.

Frost was jailed today (Monday 26) after admitting two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of common assault and one of money laundering at a hearing last month.

He was sentenced to ten years and nine months for the dangerous driving offences, 16 months for money laundering and six months for assault, to run consecutively.

He will only be eligible for parole after serving two thirds of the ten-year sentence.

He has also been disqualified from driving for five years, plus an extension period of five years and seven months, making the total driving ban 11 years and seven months.

He will be required to take an extended test before being allowed back on the roads and has also been made subject of a restraining order against the assault victim.