100mph Laughing Gas driver admits to killing friends

A driver who was filmed laughingly gassing before driving off at 100 mph (160 km/h) has pleaded guilty to murdering three teenage friends.

Thomas Johnson was driving at high speed when his car crashed into a tree in the village of Marcham, Oxfordshire, killing occupants Ethan Goddard and Daniel Hancock, both 18, and Elliot Pullen, 17.

Johnson, 19, admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and is being sentenced at Oxford Crown Court.

The victims’ families called him an “arrogant teenage boy” who was showing off and urged others not to “be that driver who shows such disregard for the lives of his friends”.

Mr Hancock’s family also pleaded with people not to “be a passenger of such a driver”.

He said, “Please learn from this, an opportunity that boys were not lucky enough to be given.”

Mr Goddard’s father, Robert, said: “He’s ruined everybody’s life, he’s taken three, ruined his own life, ruined our lives just to show off.”

Elliot Pullen’s sister, 20-year-old Mia, said: “I know he’s just an egotistical teenage boy, I know he’s not a terrible person, but he’s made some terrible decisions and I really hope he He will feel guilty for what he has done.

“It’s his fault, he did it, he killed them and I hope that stays with him forever.”

Johnson had had his license for less than a year when he was seen driving his BMW 3 Series at speed along the A415 towards Abingdon just after midnight on 20 June 2023.

Detectives said that as he entered a 30 mph zone, going around a turn, he lost control of the vehicle, the car skidded and struck a lamp-post before hitting a large tree.

All three passengers died on the spot. Johnson suffered life-threatening injuries and spent several months in the hospital.

Two sisters told police that they had heard the sound of a car sliding or being swept nearby, shortly before a silver BMW overtook them.

Moments later, as they entered Marcham village, they found debris and called 999.