A TEENAGER driving while drunk and high on drugs has admitted causing the death of a girl on her 17th birthday.

Callum Jim Francis Gray, 19, has been warned he will be jailed after pleading guilty to causing the death of Estelle Thompson while driving without due care and attention.

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The offence was aggravated as Gray was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis at the time the crash, a court heard.

Estelle had been a front-seat passenger in a Ford Ka driven by Gray which had been travelling towards Padiham when it crashed just after the humpback canal bridge, near The Stables, in Hapton.

Lancashire Telegraph:

After Gray lost control of the silver-coloured Ka at 5.40am on July 20 last year it collided with a stone wall.

At a hearing at Burnley Crown Court yesterday, Gray was told by Judge Beverley Lunt that he would go to prison for the offence.

She said: “You are sure to be imprisoned.

“I suggest that you spend the next few weeks getting your affairs in order because when you come back here to be sentenced do not think you will be going home.”

The court heard that Gray’s vehicle was travelling at around 40mph in a 30mph zone before failing to negotiate a sharp left bend.

Tests revealed that he was over the legal drink-drive limit and evidence of cannabis use was found in his blood.

The level of cannabis derivatives in Gray’s blood would have been above the legal limit brought in by new legislation introduced since the fatal crash took place.

Estelle’s family were in court to see Gray admit causing her death.

Estelle, was born in Blackburn and lived there until the age of eight months.

She later attended Cherry Fold Primary School and Unity College before becoming a hairdressing student at Accrington and Rossendale College.

Following her death, her brother, Ben Marsh, paid loving tribute to her.

He said: “Estelle was a beautiful, unique, young woman. She was one in a million.

“She was full of joy and happiness and never failed to put a smile on my face.

“Estelle wasn’t just a sister to me, she was also my best friend.”

Estelle also left sisters Sadie and Stacey Marsh and mum, Elizabeth Marsh.

After Gray’s guilty plea he was disqualified from driving as an interim measure with immediate effect.

He will return to crown court on Monday, September 21 to be sentenced.