A teenager has been jailed for over five years over a fatal crash in Mitcham in 2019.

Rexon Rebidelmo, 19, from Mitcham Eastfields, was sentenced to five years and three months in jail on Friday (November 12), after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while uninsured and unlicensed in relation to the death of Charles Burcombe.

The Met Police reported how Charles had gone out in his car with his grandson to buy baked beans when Rebidelmo hit them with his car in the crash, which happened on December 20, 2019.

At 3.40pm, Charles pulled up to the junction of Framfield Road and Streatham Road with the intention of turning right. Rebidelmo had left the traffic lights at the junction of London Road as he turned into Streatham Road and accelerated hard.

Police said that GPS data showed he reached a speed of 78 mph in the moments leading up to the crash. At the point of impact the car was travelling at 56 mph.

As Charles began to manoeuvre in to the clear road, Rebedelmo crashed into the side of his car. Charles died instantly from the impact. His grandson sustained minor injuries. Rebidelmo was arrested at the scene.

The police investigation found that Rebedelmo had been speeding in Mitcham and Morden prior to the collision.

Detective Constable Victor Barkes from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit led the investigation.

"This is a heartbreaking and tragic case where an innocent man has lost his life and the lives of so many others have been shattered by the careless and dangerous actions of Rexon Rebidelmo," she said. "I hope that today’s outcome can provide some comfort at this incredibly difficult time. Rebidelmo showed plain disregard for the lives of others as he drove at excessive speeds along 20mph roads. When he saw Charles’ car it was too late, he was driving too fast to avoid hitting Charles and his grandson. As this case tragically underscore, speeding can have fatal consequences," she added.