A GRIEVING mum has been left fuming after a soldier who crashed his BMW into trees and killed her teen daughter has avoided jail to save his job.
Laionie Kennard, 18, when the car she was a passenger in left the road in East in September 2023.
Joseph Pickett, 18 and a serving soldier, had consumed up to a bottle of Henry Weston’s cider before driving, an inquest heard.
and smashed into trees before failing a roadside breath test following the crash.
Joseph had been taking Laionie – as well as his girlfriend Edy Herridge and friend William Green, both 18 – home from a trip to .
A haunting one-second video clip shown at the inquest, which Laionie filmed, appeared to show the car’s speedometer at between 70mph and 80mph in a 30mph zone.
Laionie had messaged her mother Kelly Kennard, 41, to express concern at Pickett’s driving – and just 30 minutes later she died at the scene from serious head injuries while the others sustained minor injuries.
In January 2025, Pickett admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving at Poole Magistrates’ Court and was handed a 10-month sentence.
But his prison sentence was suspended as an immediate jail term would have cost him his career.
Afterwards Kelly said: “I feel so angry that my daughter lost her life and yet the man driving the car didn’t receive a prison sentence.
“A video recorded in the car one minute before the collision shows another passenger swearing about the speed they were travelling at.
“The speedometer was visible on this recording and, albeit blurry, the coroner could see the dial was pointing at 12 o’clock which is 80mph, in a 30mph zone.
“I feel my daughter has been completely failed.”
The inquest also heard that Joseph had bought the less than three weeks before the crash and had limited experience driving it after passing a week-long intensive course through the .
Joseph previously said: “The corner just jumped out on me.”
The coroner, Brendan Allen, said in his conclusion: “He overestimated his abilities as a driver and underestimated the dangers of driving a high-powered car and driving at night.”
He will now issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report over the lack of restrictions on newly-qualified and inexperienced motorists.
Allen said graduated driving licences would be raised with the , while concerns surrounding intensive driving courses would be raised with the .
Kelly paid tribute to her daughter who she described as the “kindest, most loving daughter we could wish for” who was described as “a ray of sunshine” by her work colleagues.
She said: “Laionie was the kindest, most loving daughter we could wish for. She was my best friend and we were joined at the hip.
“She was such a big part of our family and also a really loyal friend.
“In fact, the reason she went out that night was because her friend was down in the dumps and she wanted to be there for her – as she wanted to be for everyone she knew.
“Laionie was only just coming out of her shell after getting a new job in compliance [in an company].
“She was looking forward to travelling and had so much going for her.”
A MoD spokesperson said after the court case: “Our thoughts are with Laionie’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time.
“Craftsman Joseph Pickett pleaded guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving at Poole Magistrates’ Court on 30th January (2025).
“He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, and disqualified from driving for two years with an extended re-test.
“He was [ordered to pay] £232 [in costs] and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.”
They added that any service personnel who commit an offence are dealt with through the disciplinary process, but would not comment on Pickett’s individual circumstances.
