A MAN has today been jailed for eight and a half years for killing a “wonderful” teenager during a police chase through New Cross.

Wiktoria Was, 13, was travelling with her family when a driver being pursued by police crashed into the back of their VW Polo at traffic lights in Ilderton Road on January 6.

Devon Newell, aged 33, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to eight and a half years imprisonment and six years disqualification from driving at Woolwich Crown Court on February 18.

Wiktoria was a Year 9 pupil at Goffs School in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, and was described as “talented” and “funny” by headteacher Alison Garner.

At the time of the teenager’s death, Ms Garner said: "Wiktoria was a wonderful member of our community.

"It was impossible to be in Wiktoria’s company without being struck by her wonderful personality and humour as well as her many talents and her loss is felt deeply throughout our school."

Newell also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, driving with no insurance and driving with no licence.

He was also sentenced to two years imprisonment for causing serious injury to run concurrently.