Cotswolds woman who killed two people gets longer jail time

Liberty Mitchell filmed herself driving on Snapchat before she killed two people in a crash. <i>(Image: Gloucestershire Police)</i>
Liberty Mitchell filmed herself driving on Snapchat before she killed two people in a crash. (Image: Gloucestershire Police)
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A Cotswolds woman whose "reckless" driving killed two people in a high-speed crash has now been given a longer prison sentence.

Liberty Mitchell, of Chipping Norton, had her sentence increased by two years and seven months, to nine years and three months.

This was after the Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, referred her case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that on December 2, 2022, Mitchell was driving towards Aldsworth, Gloucestershire, when she attempted to overtake three vehicles on the wrong side of the road at nearly 100mph in a 60mph zone.

Liberty Mitchell.Liberty Mitchell. (Image: Gloucestershire police)

She collided with one of the cars she had attempted to pass, which was a taxi, causing a pile-up involving multiple vehicles.

The driver of the taxi, Octavian Codreanu, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, history teacher Moyra Whelan, suffered life-threatening injuries and later died at Southmead Hospital.

Mitchell’s actions that led to the crash also injured six other people, three of them seriously.

The 21-year-old self-employed domestic cleaner was driving the car between jobs at the time of the collision, and her motor insurance policy did not cover use or business purposes.

Moyra Whelan.Moyra Whelan. (Image: Gloucestershire police)

Following an investigation by the police, videos of Mitchell filming herself whilst driving dangerously were discovered on her social media accounts.

One video showed her speeding at 100mph, and another showed her veering to the opposite side of the road onto oncoming traffic.

The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, said: "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.

Liberty Mitchell.Liberty Mitchell. (Image: Gloucestershire police)

"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."

On December 18, 2025, at Gloucester Crown Court, Mitchell was sentenced to six years and eight months’ imprisonment for pleading 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, with a requirement to take an extended driving test before regaining a licence.

On Tuesday, July 28, at the Court of Appeal, Mitchell’s sentence was increased to nine years and three months.

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