Caerphilly: Dangerous driver guilty of killing dog walker
Daniel Boucher, 28, was convicted of the offence in which 66-year-old David Chaplin was killed on Ty Du Road, Nelson, Caerphilly.
Prosecutor Owen Williams said the victim died at the scene after being hit by the defendant who was driving a Peugeot 207 GTi on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
Boucher, of New Road, Argoed, near Blackwood had denied the offence during his trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
He is due to be sentenced on Monday, June 23.
The defendant was granted bail by Judge Vanessa Francis.
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Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
'Show-off' driver who revved engine before flipping his car and killing grandfather who was walking his dogs is jailed
A 'show off' driver revved the engine of his powerful car before killing an innocent grandfather walking his dog has been jailed. Daniel Boucher, 28, bragged about the horsepower of his Peugeot 207 moments before a deadly crash. He lost control of the car after taking a bend too fast, flipping the vehicle and ploughing into 66-year-old David Paul Chaplin. Mr Chaplin, who had been walking two dogs in Nelson, near Caerphilly, South Wales, was struck with devastating force. Emergency crews raced to the scene, including officers, paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, the Welsh Air Ambulance, and South Wales Fire and Rescue. But despite their efforts, the grandfather died at the scene. Prosecutor Owen Williams said Boucher had finished work when he bragged to colleague Scott Williams about the 165 and 170 horsepower of his 'turbocharged' car. He said Boucher had been driving 'way too fast' after leaving work and crashed a short way into his journey. Boucher was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving having admitted a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving. Hashim Salmman, defending, said Boucher was genuinely remorseful. Judge Vanessa Francis told him: 'This was a tragic miscalculation of what speed was safe to negotiate that bend and your ability to control the car and keep other road users safe as is your responsibility.' Boucher, of Argoed, Blackwood, was jailed for four years and banned from driving for five years. Speaking after the sentence Mr Chaplin's daughter Abby Hillberg, said her father was 'more than just a victim of a tragic and heartbreaking event, he was an amazing dad, and outstanding grandfather, a partner and a friend to many.' She said: 'Today we remember and honour the life of the amazing and wonderful Paul Chaplin, whose life was tragically cut short on 18 April 2023 due a road traffic collision. 'His life was cruelly taken from him far too soon, and the shock and impact of this loss has affected everyone who loved and knew him. 'He was the main function of our family, our whole world and more. 'He was more than just a victim of a tragic and heartbreaking event, he was an amazing dad, and outstanding grandfather, a partner and a friend to many. 'He brightened every room he walked in, made a positive impact on everyone who met him and, most of all, brought happiness to those around him. 'No words will ever explain the heartache and sorrow that we felt and still feel to this day, but in remembering our Dad and Bampi we hold onto the joy and love he brought into our lives and remember all the memories we share and that remain in our hearts forever. 'There is not a day that goes by where we don't think of him, tell him we love him or reminisce on our happy memories. He really was one of a kind, a true gentleman and an honourable man. 'We hope for this tribute to serve as a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety and acknowledgement of pedestrians. 'Every life lost is a family shattered and a future rewritten. Rest in peace and keep showing us daily that you are with us. You will never be forgotten, we love you always.' Sergeant Shane Draper, the senior investigating officer from the serious collision investigation unit, said: 'This is a tragic case that has resulted in the needless loss of a life. 'The facts of the case are that, after leaving work, Boucher drove dangerously, far too quickly for the road and lost control of his vehicle. 'Boucher was showing off and his failure to drive to the required competent and careful driving standard has caused devastating consequences - the death of Mr Chaplin, who was simply walking his dog on the pavement. 'The importance of driving carefully and to your ability at all times is never more poignant than in this case; the collision was so unnecessary. Dangerous driving ruins lives. 'This is a reminder to everyone who gets behind the wheel - your responsibility isn't just to ensure your own safety, but the safety of everyone around you. 'Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Chaplin.'
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Argoed driver jailed for killing dog walker in Nelson crash
Window cleaner Daniel Boucher, 28, lost control of his Peugeot 207 GTi on a bend on Ty Du Road in Nelson and hit 66-year-old David Chaplin – who had been walking his two dogs. Mr Chaplin died at the scene on April 18, 2023. Boucher pleaded guilty to a lesser offence of causing death by careless driving, but was found guilty by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. In a statement read to the court by prosecutor Owen Williams, Mr Chaplin's granddaughter Abby Hillberg said: 'My bampi was a fit and healthy 66-year-old man at the time of his accident. 'He was out doing something he loved – walking his dogs – when his life was taken from him. 'As a family, this is something we will carry with us forever. 'My bampi and I were inseparable. He was my father figure in life. 'When I lost my bampi, I lost a piece of myself. My spark disappeared.' Daniel Boucher crashed and hit David Chaplin as he was walking his dogs. (Image: Gwent Police) During the trial, prosecutor Owen Williams said Boucher bragged to colleague Scott Williams about the 165 and 170 horsepower of his "turbocharged" car as they finished work. He said the defendant was then "showing off" as he revved the engine with his workmate following in a car behind on the 30mph road. The court heard Boucher was driving "way too fast" as he rounded a bend and "oversteered". Mr Williams said the Peugeot mounted the pavement and collided with a lamppost before flipping onto its side and stopping on a grass verge. Boucher admitted speeding to police officers at the scene saying: "I lost control of the car." He later confessed: "What have I done? I'm sorry." The court heard evidence that it would take a speed in excess of 45-55mph to cause a driver to lose control round the corner in the conditions that day. Boucher, of New Road in Argoed, had no previous convictions and a previously clean driving record. 'There is nothing I can say to ease the pain and suffering caused,' said Hashim Salmman, mitigating. He said Boucher showed 'genuine remorse' for his actions, and had always accepted criminal responsibility for the crash. Mr Salmman added the defendant did not seek to minimise his offending and fully accepted the jury's verdict when speaking with the probation service. Mr Salmman said Boucher tried to aid Mr Chaplin immediately after the crash. Judge Vanessa Francis described the crash as 'a tragic miscalculation'. Boucher was jailed for four years. He has been disqualified from driving for a total of six years and two months, and must pass an extended retest to regain his licence. "This is a tragic case that has resulted in the needless loss of a life,' said Sergeant Shane Draper, the senior investigating officer. 'I would like to thank all those who assisted in our investigation and offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Chaplin. "The importance of driving carefully and to your ability at all times is never more poignant than in this case; the collision was so unnecessary. Dangerous driving ruins lives.'
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Wales Online
Heartbroken granddaughter says 'Bampi was my whole world' as 'show-off' killer driver locked up
Heartbroken granddaughter says 'Bampi was my whole world' as 'show-off' killer driver locked up Daniel Boucher was speeding and 'showing off' in his car when he knocked down and killed 66-year-old grandfather David Chaplin Daniel Boucher (Image: Gwent Police ) The granddaughter of a man killed by a speeding driver while walking his dog has described how her "bampi" was her "whole world" and losing him meant losing a part of herself. Daniel Boucher was driving too fast and was "showing off" when he lost control of his Peugeot 207 GTI on a bend causing the car to leave the road, flip onto its side, and hit 66-year-old David Paul Chaplin. Mr Chaplin was found unconscious on a grass verge beside the road and despite the best efforts of medics could not be saved. The defendant admitted causing the death of the grandfather by careless driving but denied the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving. The 28-year-old was convicted following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court in May this year and sentencing was adjourned for a pre-sentence report. At the time of the fatal collision in April 2023 Boucher was working for a window-cleaning firm based in Nelson, Caerphilly. The trial heard that he left Whitebeam industrial estate at around 5.10pm on April 18 and was heard to be revving the car's engine for no obvious reason. A colleague described him as "showing off". A short time later Boucher took a bend "way too fast" and lost control of his car on Ty Du Road. The vehicle was travelling sideways when it left the road, crashed into a lamppost, flipped onto its side, and hit Mr Chaplin who happened to be walking his dog along the road having himself just finished work. The victim suffered multiple traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Article continues below At trial the court heard that a crash investigator calculated the maximum safe speed for negotiating the bend in question was between 45mph and 55mph. The actual speed the Peugeot was travelling at when it left the road is not known. No mechanical issues were found on the car which could have caused the loss of control and the investigator concluded the cause was down to the speed the vehicle was travelling and the driver taking his foot off the accelerator in the bend which caused a shift in the weight distribution of the vehicle – a phenomenon known as "lift-off oversteer". At trial it was argued that the defendant's driving which caused the death had been careless rather than dangerous but that was rejected by the jury. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter Daniel Boucher outside Cardiff Crown Court during his trial (Image: John Myers ) Daniel Boucher, of New Road, Argoed, Blackwood, had previously been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving when he returned to the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions and at the time of the crash held a clean driving licence. In a statement read to the court by prosecution barrister Owen Williams a granddaughter of the victim described the impact of the death of her bampi on her and her family. She said when she lost her bampi she also lost part of herself and lost her "spark" which she doesn't think she will ever get back. She described her granddad as her "father-figure" in life and as "my best friend and my whole world". The granddaughter said Mr Chaplin was an "amazing man" who had a positive impact on the lives of all those he met and said the devastating consequences of what happened on the day still "haunt" the family. She said the family were left with so many unanswered questions about why their loved one died, adding: "I know if my love alone could save him he would have lived for forever." Hashim Salmman, for Boucher, said the defendant realised that no words could ease the pain and suffering he had caused to Mr Chaplin's family but said the defendant wanted them to know he was genuinely remorseful for his action. He said it was open to the court to find that as speed was the only factor in the case the defendant's driving was "just over" the threshold of being dangerous. Judge Vanessa Francis said the street on which the fatal crash happened was "wide and well-appointed" and said there were no other vehicles on the road at the time of the crash apart from that of a colleague of the defendant who was traveling behind him. She said it was "tragic indeed" that when the defendant lost control of his car Mr Chaplin was directly in his path as he walked his dogs after leaving work. She said: "This was a tragic miscalculation of what speed was safe to negotiate that bend and your ability to control the car and keep other road users safe as is your responsibility." The judge said she accepted the defendant stayed at the scene of the crash and was one of those who helped perform CPR on Mr Chaplin and she said she accepted the defendant's remorse was genuine. Article continues below Boucher was sentenced to four years in prison and was banned from driving for six years and four months The court heard the defendant is "likely" to serve 40% of his sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant must pass an extended test before he can a licence.
