Manchester City Defender Courtney Meppen-Walter Jailed for Causing Death by Careless Driving

Manchester City youth player Courtney Meppen-Walter has been jailed for 16 months for causing the deaths of two people by careless driving.

Meppen-Walter, 18, pleaded guilty last month to causing the deaths of brother and sister Kulwant Singh, 32, and Ravel Kaur, 37, when he crashed his Mercedes into their Nissan Micra in Bury in September.

Kaur's two sons, aged 16 and 17, were in the back seat of the car when the collision took place. They sustained head injuries but police said they have made a full recovery.

Manchester Crown Court heard how on the night of the accident Meppen-Walter, of Blackley, Manchester, was driving at 56 mph in a 30mph zone when he collided with the other vehicle.

Judge Martin Steiger QC told the former England U-18 captain: "This, as offences go, was in the most serious category for causing death by careless driving.

"There were also a number of aggravating factors."

The defender had previosuly been fined £75 for speeding in Bury in March 2012.

The court also heard how the victims had come into the country in 2001 in order to escape the Taliban regime.

Meppen-Walter has been at Manchester City since 2003 but has yet to make a first-team appearance, although he has been on the bench for two Champions League matches.

He represented England at the under-17 level.