A KILLER driver was counting £100 in notes behind the wheel when she knocked down a "selfless" teen riding a moped.

Chantelle Gleave, 22, ploughed into A-level pupil Ethan Ross, 17, on his way home from work at a castle restaurant in Asaph, Wales.

Ethan tragically died of his injuries – and went on to donate his organs to save other lives.

Gleave had been counting the notes after being paid £100 for helping a friend clean out his flat on the tragic night.

A court heard she told an off-duty police officer: "I was looking down to the side, counting the money, and when I looked up he was just there in front of me and I hit him.

"I didn't see him. He was going so slowly. I didn't have time to stop."

A judge jailed her for five years after she admitted dangerous driving. He added that the case was one of the "saddest he had ever heard."

The court heard Ethan's last words to his mum, Helen, were: "See you later, I love you" before riding off on his moped.

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Meanwhile Gleave, of Shotton, North Wales, was on her way home in her Vauxhall Astra.

Her headlights weren't working but she had put on her foglights in September last year.

She had started counting the £100 in £10 notes which were to her left on the central console or front passenger seat.

But she hit Ethan at 60mph on his way back from a shift as a waiter at Bodelwyddan Castle – a trip he had safely made many times.

Simon Mills, defending Gleave, said of her driving: "She had foglights. I accept they were not adequate but it's not that she was driving an unlit car."

Mr Mills said the defendant had been "very seriously negligent" but she had shown some remorse.

She recognises the "devastation she has caused and has flashbacks" after the tragedy on the A55 at St Asaph.

We are all totally devastated and our hearts ache so very much for the loss of our beautiful, selfless, kind, caring, determined, quiet, gifted, Chelsea FC loving son.

The court heard she had bought replacement headlight bulbs but could not afford to get them fitted at Halfords.

Mold Crown Court heard Gleave had become pregnant after being arrested – knowing that she may face charges. The baby is due in April.

The judge, His Honour Judge Rhys Rowlands, told Gleave that using only foglights, which the court heard didn't travel as far, had been "grossly irresponsible".

He said: "There's no sentence I can pass which will go anywhere near reflecting the loss of Ethan"

He jailed Gleave for five years after she admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He also disqualified her from driving for seven and a half years following her release.

'DEVASTATED'

Parents Helen and Paul Ross said: "We are all totally devastated and our hearts ache so very much for the loss of our beautiful, selfless, kind, caring, determined, quiet, gifted, Chelsea FC loving son.

"He made us burst with pride every single day."

They added that Ethan was able to donate his organs and "give the most precious thing of all, a gift of life to others."

Ethan's mum said she last saw her son when he left their house to start a double shift as a waiter at a castle restaurant.

His organs were donated after his death and his mother said her son "has helped so many" lives.

The family has been contacted by the woman who has received Ethan's kidney after waiting for years for a transplant.

"It just means we can tell everybody about Ethan and keep him alive," said Mrs Ross. "He will never be forgotten".

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