A "cowardly" speedboat owner who killed his date in a crash on the River Thames has been sentenced to six years' imprisonment in his absence.

Web designer Jack Shepherd, 30, had been trying to impress 24-year-old Charlotte Brown, from Clacton, after meeting her on dating website OkCupid.

But their champagne-fuelled first date ended in tragedy when his boat capsized near Wandsworth Bridge in central London when it hit a submerged log after Shepherd encouraged his date to take the wheel.

They were both thrown into the cold water and Ms Brown died after she was pulled from the river unconscious and unresponsive.

Shepherd, originally from Exeter, was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence in his absence over the incident on December 8 2015 after failing to attend his Old Bailey trial.

Police have been unable to track him down after he skipped bail, and he was not in court to face sentence on Friday despite pleas from his victim's family.

Shepherd's barrister Stephen Vullo QC said: "He could not have faced the Brown family from the dock and it's cowardice he could not do so."

Reading an emotional victim impact statement in court, Ms Brown's mother, Roz Wickens, said: "I want Jack Shepherd to know that when he's enjoying himself with his family, I in fact am not enjoying myself and never will. The truth is I will be visiting Charlotte's grave. Also, if it was a dreadful accident, as he has claimed, why hasn't he explained what happened that night and at least sent his condolences.

"The fact is, if Charlotte had not met him she would still be alive today. The empty hole that has been left in my heart is huge and is agony.

"I will continue to feel pain, distress, emotion and anguish until I take my final breath."

Judge Richard Marks QC sentenced Shepherd to six years' imprisonment in his absence and said he had a "totally cavalier attitude to safety".

"I'm satisfied that at the time of the collision the boat was being driven in excess of the speed limit although I cannot be certain of the extent to which that was the case.

"What is clear beyond doubt in my judgment is the defendant should never have allowed Charlotte to drive the boat at any time.

"She had been drinking, it was dark, and he must have known the river potentially contained hazards... she had no previous boating experience at all."

The court heard Shepherd got married to a childhood friend very shortly after the speedboat crash and now has a two-year-old child.

But the relationship broke down and Shepherd has struggled to gain work because of his drinking and links to the case, his barrister said.

Ms Wickens said: "Watching my two daughters grieve and deal with the loss of their sister and best friend has been heartbreaking.

"No one can underestimate or understand the panic that shivers through you when your thoughts go to how Charlotte lost her life that night."

She added: "Charlotte was the light of my life in every way. She was beautiful, healthy, intelligent, compassionate, bright, funny, supportive and just the very best company.

"After going to university, she has gained an excellent job and, to be honest, she had everything to live for.

"Charlotte's life had only just begun and now she has been robbed of her life, being a wife and mother and all that her future life entailed."