A “reckless” and dangerous driver who killed his brother and a friend in a crash has been jailed for six years.

Jordon White, 20, made a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre at speed in his black Vauxhall Corsa while there were four other people inside.

His car narrowly avoided an oncoming vehicle before he lost control and hit a tree on Toddington Road, Tebworth, Bedfordshire, at about 3.20pm on 18 January.

His brother, Reece White, 23, and another passenger, Ellie Ogden-Hooper, 19, died in the crash.

St Albans Crown Court heard on Friday that White had tried to blame his dead brother for the crash, falsely claiming he had been behind the wheel.

After crashing the car, White and the two surviving passengers exited the vehicle and made off across nearby fields.

One passenger was found a short distance away, while White and the other passenger were discovered hiding in a garden shed by a police dog.

White was found to be in possession of a provisional driving licence and had no MOT or insurance for the vehicle, and was driving on false “cloned’ plates.

Later testing showed he was driving while over the prescribed limit for cannabis.

White, from Wallis Drive, Leighton Buzzard, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was sentenced to six years in prison. He will also be disqualified from driving for nine years after his release.

Detective Sergeant Ben Heath, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: “I am glad that White has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and will be spending a considerable time behind bars.

“His reckless actions that day claimed the lives of two young people, as well as the life-changing impact the collision has had on the other people involved.

“Speeding and driving under the influence of drugs are just two reasons why collisions turn fatal, and anyone who doesn’t take their safety while driving seriously should look at the serious and devastating consequences that it can have on yours and other people’s lives.

“I also want to thank the members of the public who stopped to help one of the casualties who was still in the car, for their extraordinary kindness and bravery.”