A YOUNG woman died after a driver suffered an epileptic fit at the wheel and smashed into her.

Laura Williams, 23, was a passenger in her boyfriend’s Mini when it was hit from behind by Giles Furnival and sent crashing into the central reservation on the M25.

Furnival, who failed to tell the DVLA he was epileptic, was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Married Furnival, of Winfields, Pitsea, sat in the dock at Basildon Crown Court yesterday, sobbing as the court heard he had suffered epileptic fits since the age of 16.

Furnival, 33, had been told by experts he should not be on the road and the DVLA should have been informed.

The court heard the tragedy unfolded on the anticlockwise carriageway, between junctions 30 and 29, in Thurrock, at 6.30pm on September 29.

Ms Williams was on her way home to Chelmsford, following a shopping trip to Lakeside with her boyfriend Dean Fox, 25, when their green Mini was hit and rolled over.

Furnival, was on his way back from work, but had pulled over on to to the hard shoulder after he began feeling unwell.

He then carried on with his journey and pulled out on to the nearside lane at speed, ploughing into the back of the mini.

At the scene, Furnival told police he had “blacked out”.

Ms Williams sustained multiple injuries. She died at Basildon Hospital three days later.

Depot manager Furnival admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Mitigating, Cryus Shroff said Furnival had been racked by guilt by what he had done and had cut his wrists since the tragedy.

Mr Shroff said: “He has found it difficult to live with the pain he caused to Ms Williams’ family.”

He said Furnival thought his fits were under control.

Judge John Lodge told Furnival: “Driving a motor vehicle carries with it responsibility. It is an object of immense power and a potential danger in the wrong hands.

“In your case, the vehicle was in the wrong hands.”

Touching on the fact Furnival was aware of his serious health condition and had been warned not to drive, he said: “You took the view you knew better.

“Because of your arrogant decision, you were a tragedy waiting to happen. The accident which occurred was sadly predictable.”

Furnival, a former member of the Territorial Army, was also banned from driving for five years. He was told he must pass an extended test and be free from seizure for a least a year to get a driving licence again.