AN RAF serviceman has been jailed for five years for dangerous driving following a crash which killed a "loving and vibrant" couple.

It took a jury at Oxford Crown Court an hour and 35 minutes yesterday to unanimously convict parachute instructor Sergeant Mark Pielesz, 30, of Queen's Road, Carterton, of two counts of dangerous driving. The crash, which happened on June 24 last year on the Carterton to Brize Norton link road, resulted in the deaths of Corporal Lee Heads, 30, who was based at RAF Brize Norton, and his partner Senior Aircraftswoman Claire Boulter, 26, of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Following the verdict, Judge Julian Hall said: "It is difficult to imagine a clearer case of dangerous driving."

He sentenced Pielesz to five years in prison and disqualified him from driving for eight years.

During the trial the court heard that Pielesz lost control of his blue Mitsubishi 3000 as he negotiated a left hand bend. His car ploughed into the silver Volvo in which the couple were travelling. They both died at the scene.

Pielesz and his passenger, Sergeant Keith Chapman, who were on their way to Witney, were both treated by paramedics at the scene. Pielesz spent three weeks in hospital for injuries including a broken pelvis.

Expert witnesses estimated Pielesz had been driving at speeds of between 81 and 87 mph at the time. The speed limit was 60mph.

Pielesz, who denied the charge, blamed the road surface for the collision and said he had no recollection of how fast he was driving at the time. Yesterday Flight Lieutenant Trevor Jackson told the court that the prison sentence was almost certain to signal the end of Pielesz's RAF career.

Judge Hall said Pielesz had been convicted on "overwhelming evidence".

He told him that indulging his love of speed had resulted in two people being killed.

Judge Hall added: "No sentence can assuage the feeling of utter tragedy and loss that both these families suffer as a result of your driving."

Following the verdict, Pc Pete Billingham read out a statement from the families of the couple who died.

It read: "As you can imagine our families have been totally devastated by the senseless deaths of our respective children. The anguish and pain will live with us forever.

"We are of the opinion that the lengthy sentence is justified, if for no other reason than to ensure other drivers realise that there is a price to pay for driving in a dangerous manner.

"Lee and Clare were a very happy and vibrant couple serving their country in the RAF. Their deaths have upset so many people, especially families, friends and colleagues."