Jail for driver Tyrone Franklin who ploughed into and killed 16-year-old Christchurch boy Billy Lardner near Bournemouth Airport

A driver who ploughed into and killed a 16-year-old Christchurch boy in an 80mph hit-and-run crash has been jailed for 11 years.

Billy Lardner was hit by Tyrone Franklin’s car after the teen had spent the evening working at Bournemouth Airport. Franklin had been drinking at a Bournemouth pub for several hours before the fatal crash.

Franklin (25), of Poole, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court today (Friday) after admitting charges of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving without valid insurance.

Dorset Police received a report at 9.37pm on Friday 30th June last year of the crash on Parley Lane, near the traffic light junction at the entrance to Bournemouth Airport, involving a Franklin’s Honda Civic and Billy, who was on foot.

After leaving the airport at around 9.30pm, Billy was approaching the traffic light junction when he saw his brother, who had come to collect him, stopped at the lights in his vehicle.

As Billy went over the pedestrian crossing, he was struck by the Honda, which was coming from the direction of Chapel Gate.

Members of the public went to help and saw the driver leave the vehicle on foot and head into a nearby hedgerow.

Emergency services attended, but Billy was pronounced dead at the scene.

The area was searched but the driver could not be found. However, after enquiries, Franklin was located at an address in Poole the following afternoon and was arrested.

Expert reports into the collision concluded Franklin was travelling at a speed of around 80 to 85mph at the time of the impact, with the speed limit in the area 40mph.

Further investigations uncovered CCTV footage of Franklin at a pub in Bournemouth, where he was seen drinking alcohol from around 3.30pm on the day of the crash for several hours.

Detective Constable Michelle Underwood, of Dorset Police’s serious collision investigation team, said: “Nothing will ever make up for the unspeakable loss suffered by Billy’s family and loved ones that resulted from Tyrone Franklin’s actions on [that night].

“His dangerous driving after consuming alcohol was compounded by the fact that he fled the scene in an attempt to escape justice.

“Through our enquiries we were able to identify Franklin as the driver responsible for this tragic incident and ensure he was brought to court to face the consequences of his actions.”

Alongside the jail sentence, Franklin was disqualified from driving for 10 years, with the ban to start on his release from prison.