A drunk driver who crashed his car killing two Wolverhampton passengers had his jail sentence increased by judges in the Court of Appeal this afternoon.

They ruled the four years and eight months being served by Andrew Nicholls was too lenient and raised it to seven-and-a-half years.

Nicholls, aged 24, who had never taken a test and was uninsured at the time of the accident, was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court on March 4, after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

But Attorney General Baroness Scotland referred the case to the Court of Appeal to consider whether the sentence was “unduly lenient.”

Nicholls, of Upper Gornal, Dudley, lost control of his car in Ettingshall in April 2008.

Passengers Andrea Warmer, aged 19, a barmaid of Ettingshall and 24-year-old Simon Wright, aged 24, of Lanesfield, died at the scene.

Lord Justice Thomas told how despite the fact Nicholls had never taken a driving test, he had previously driven because in 2008 “he was disqualified from driving through excess alcohol.”

The judge added that “notwithstanding that conviction” Nicholls had bought a powerful saloon car.

There had been a “deliberate and flagrant” decision to flout the rules of the road.