A man accused of causing the death of his girlfriend in a horror crash in Canterbury has appeared in court.

Mentesh Da Silva, 18, from Teynham, was said to have been at the wheel of a Renault Clio when it collided with a tree in Broad Oak, killing 18-year-old Emily Laker.

Da Silva was seriously hurt and rushed to a London hospital, while a third teenager, who was in the back of the car, escaped with minor injuries.

The road was shut for eight hours after the accident at 12.20am on August 30.

Shortly after he was discharged from hospital, Da Silva - who also goes by the surname Mouherrem - was arrested and later charged with causing death by careless driving.

He appeared before Maidstone magistrates today and entered no plea, with the case sent to crown court for a pre-trial hearing on February 5.

Da Silva, who was accompanied by family members, appeared in the dock in a grey suit for the short hearing.

He was bailed with conditions not to contact Miss Laker’s family and to surrender his passport, which he has already done.