A web designer responsible for killing his date in a speedboat crash on the River Thames is facing jail.

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

But their champagne-fuelled first date ended in tragedy when his boat capsized on the River Thames in central London and she was thrown into the cold water in December 2015.

Shepherd, originally from Exeter, was convicted in his absence of the manslaughter of Ms Brown by gross negligence.

But her family have pleaded with him to attend court to face sentence on Friday.

Gazette: Undated handout file photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Charlotte Brown. Web developer Jack Shepherd is due to be sentenced after he was found guilty of killing her in a speedboat accident on the Thames. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday

Ms Brown's sister Katie Brown said in a statement on behalf of the family: "The immense pain and anguish we feel will never pass and our grief will last a lifetime."

She added: "We now appeal to Jack Shepherd wherever he is in the world to return and assume the responsibility of his guilt and the devastation he caused by his actions that fateful night - we appeal to Jack Shepherd's family and friends to appeal to him and urge him to face the consequences of his actions."

The court had heard how Shepherd had bought the 14ft Fletcher Arrowflyte GTO from Gumtree to "pull women".

Gazette: Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of the speedboat owned by Web designer Jack Shepherd who is due to be sentenced after he was found guilty of killing his date, Charlotte Brown, in an accident on the Thames. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

The 14ft Fletcher Arrowflyte GTO whcih Shepherd bought on Gumtree

In the months before Ms Brown's death, Shepherd had entertained up to 10 women on the 1980s model, having invited them back to his houseboat in Hammersmith.

During that time, he had been caught speeding by marine police more than once and advised on the importance of wearing life jackets.