Stourbridge man admits causing death of girlfriend, 26, in car crash

Thomas Whitehouse was driving a Vauxhall Astra when he hit a tree on the A449 in Cookley in December last year. His 26-year-old girlfriend Samantha Jennings, who was sat in the front passenger seat, died in the crash.

At an inquest into the mother-of-two's death earlier this year, Mr Whitehouse said he could not remember the crash or the evening.

But appearing at Worcester Crown Court, Whitehouse, aged 23, of Burns Close, pleaded guilty to causing her death by careless driving. He also admitted to possessing cannabis.

A test following the fatal crash found no alcohol in Whitehouse's blood, but cannabis was detected, although it was unknown how much was taken.

The pair had driven back from Birmingham and had picked up two people, including friend Leander Mock, who was sat in the back seat when the vehicle crashed.

At the inquest at Worcestershire Coroners Court in April, Mr Mock said: "I only saw Tom (Whitehouse) have one drink all evening and we were going at a reasonable speed not going above the limit."

He said he had felt 'a bump' before the car started to skid and it felt like the rear tyres had left the road.

The inquest also heard that none of the car passengers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Miss Jennings, who is from Aldridge Close in Wordsley, died at the crash scene, which was near the Island Pool pub, on December 8.

She had two boys aged eight and nine and worked as a care assistant, looking after adults with disabilities.

She was a former pupil of the Glynne Primary School and Summerhill School in Kingswinford.

In a tribute following her death, her family said: "Sam was a caring person, an angel. She was a much loved mother, daughter, sister, and granddaughter, and we are broken hearted.

"Sam was vivacious, a party girl, who lived life to the full.

"She had the world at her feet, and was so happy.

"She leaves us the legacy of her two little boys and she will be forever in our thoughts and in our hearts."

Days following her death, her family suffered a second blow when thieves ransacked the home of her 83-year-old grandmother in Grantley Crescent in Kingswinford.

Whitehouse will be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on November 29.