Latest news with #FordC-Max
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
His 'utterly appalling' driving caused the death of his long-term partner
His 'utterly appalling' driving caused the death of his long-term partner Jack Llewellyn, 25, was nearly killed himself after losing control of his car and smashing sideways into an oncoming vehicle Jack Llewellyn caused the death of his partner Nicholas Page and left a five-year-old child with a permanent scar following a collision (Image: Gwent Police ) A driver killed his long-term partner and left a five-year-old child with a permanent scar to his face after an "utterly appalling piece of driving" led to a crash. He lost control of his vehicle and collided into a car driven by a pregnant woman, whose children were in her car, which caused the death of his front seat passenger. Jack Llewellyn, 25, smashed his black Skoda Octavia into a silver Ford C-Max after "weaving" in and out of traffic before swerving. The collision, on Greenforge Way, Cwmbran, resulted in the passenger side of the defendant's car being decimated and his passenger Nicholas Page being killed. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard the five-year-old's mother was driving on Greenforge Way on March 30, 2023, with her two young children in the back. She was seven-months pregnant at the time. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. She spotted Llewellyn's car speeding up the hill and swerving out to overtake another car, before losing control and swerving in and out towards her vehicle. The side of the Skoda hit the Ford straight on with such force it caused it to spin and face the opposite way, while the Skoda faced back the way it had come. The mother looked back and saw a "massive laceration" to her five-year-old son's forehead and he was covered in blood, while her other son suffered a friction burn. Article continues below Witness Colin Pilot described seeing Llewellyn's car passing him at speed and undertaking a Seat Ibiza before attempting to overtake another vehicle and losing control. Mr Pilot said the back of the defendant's car swerved to the right, and as Llewellyn tried to correct this, the car spun sideways and struck the Ford. Prosecutor Matthew Roberts said the car was "zig zagging" at this point. Brian Pilot, a passenger in his son's car, said he formed the view Llewellyn's car was "racing" with a blue Skoda as they were driving at speed and performing overtaking and undertaking manoeuvres. The driver of the blue Skoda was found to be moving a friend's possessions along with the defendant. Brenda Gwilym said she saw Llewellyn's car overtaking at speed and it began to come into her lane. She thought the black Skoda had hit her and made attempts to avoid it. The witness then heard a "horrendous noise" behind her and saw the defendant's car colliding with a silver car. Mr Roberts said: "This was an utterly appalling piece of driving, weaving in and out of traffic on the wrong side of the road." The police were called by members of the public who ran to assist the occupants of the two cars. Upon attending the scene, the first responders found Llewellyn unresponsive, bent over and making gurgling sounds while Mr Page was not making any noise and had blood on his trousers and in his ears. Paramedics were unable to find a pulse and Mr Page was declared dead at the scene. The five-year-old victim was taken to hospital and suffered a 12cm to 15cm laceration to the left side of his forehead, with the "skin torn away from underlying structures". The boy now has a permanent scar to the entirety of his upper forehead which will require treatment indefinitely. Llewellyn was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and was in a critical condition, with medical professionals initially believing he had a slim chance of survival. The defendant was fit enough to be interviewed in August, 2024, and while he admitted being the driver of the car, he said he had no recollection of the collision, but claimed he was not responsible for causing Mr Page's death. Llewellyn, of Park Crescent, Abergavenny, later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The court heard he had one caution for a fraud offence. In a victim personal statement read to the court by Mr Robets, Mr Page's stepmother Julia Collins said: "Mike (Mr Page's father) was a proud father of Nick and raised him single handedly from the age of 13.... We have an awful feeling of sadness and total disbelief thinking about it. Trying to cope with his passing and the traumatic way he died is impossible to bear. "Mike and I struggle to come to terms with what happened and the way it happened. It still haunts Mike and I, thinking about his final thoughts and what he was thinking and feeling, which causes us a great deal of stress. When I heard about his injuries it haunts me and causes me distress." Ms Collins said her husband and his son were not on speaking terms at the time of Mr Page's death, and said her husband never had the chance to reconcile with him. She added: "Our only comfort is Nick was with Jack at the time and we knew he truly loved him. Nick's death has had a profound effect on Mike and every day we miss him. He will forever be in our thoughts." In her statement, the five-year-old's mother said the events of the collision were "etched" in her memories and those of her children. She added: "At the time of the collision I was pregnant and feared I would lose my baby. I have travel anxiety, constant back issues and ringing in my left ear. I have poor sleep, nightmares and headaches.... "(My son) suffers with being in the car and travel anxiety, has constant nightmares and is angry and frustrated about the crash and the scar across his forehead. He has low self esteem due to the scar and does not want it on show. He is very frustrated he has to have the scar forever and it won't go. He has counselling and support in school. "This was no fault of our own, we were travelling on the correct side of the road when the collision occurred." In mitigation, Sol Hartley said his client was "utterly devastated" by the harm and devastation he caused and is "utterly sorry" for what he did. The barrister said the defendant's driving was not "prolonged or persistent" and said there was no evidence of racing. He said Llewellyn suffered a brain injury, a bruised heart, a torn lung and a fractured hip, and had been placed in a coma in hospital. Mr Hartley said the defendant has no prospect of making a full recovery and can only walk a few steps with the aid of a walking frame. Sentencing, Judge Simon Mills said he had watched footage of the collision with a "mounting sense of horror". He paid tribute to the courage of the paramedics, police officers and members of the fire brigade who attended the scene of the crash. Judge Mills said he could not be sure the black Skoda driven by Llewellyn and the blue Skoda were racing. The judge said no sentence could put right the death of Mr Page or the injuries caused to the five-year-old victim. Llewellyn was sentenced to a total of six years imprisonment, of which he will serve two thirds in custody before he is released to serve the remainder on licence. The defendant was disqualified from driving for 10 years upon his release from prison. Article continues below
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Abergavenny man killed boyfriend in Cwmbran horror crash
Jack Llewellyn's 'utterly appalling' driving caused Nicholas Page's death following a collision on Greenforge Way in Cwmbran two years ago. The 30-year-old victim was a front seat passenger in his partner's black Skoda Octavia when they crashed. Mr Page was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor at around 4.10pm on the afternoon of Thursday, March 30, 2023. Llewellyn hit a Ford C-Max car being driven by a pregnant woman who was travelling in the opposite direction with her two young sons as backseat passengers. (Image: The crash scene on Greenforge Way in Cwmbran. Sam Weaver) He had lost control of his vehicle while speeding along the dual carriageway and 'weaving in and out of traffic' undertaking and overtaking other road uses. The defendant caused a serious injury to one of the boys in the Ford. He suffered a 'massive laceration' on his forehead which has left him scarred for life. The prosecution alleged that Llewellyn had been racing another car at the time, a claim strongly denied by him. His barrister Sol Hartley said: 'There is no evidence of racing here.' Matthew Roberts, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: 'The defendant was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. 'He was given a slim chance of surviving such were the critical nature of his injuries.' Llewellyn suffered a bleed on the brain, bruising to the heart, a torn lung and multiple rib fractures. He spent 13 days in an induced coma and wasn't released from hospital until December 2023. The defendant is unable to walk. Mr Roberts said: 'This was an utterly appalling piece of driving. 'The defendant was weaving in and out of traffic – it is fairly and squarely dangerous driving.' In a victim statement written by Mr Page's stepmother Julia Collins on behalf of herself and his father Mike Page, she said: 'When we heard the news, there was an awful feeling of sadness and total disbelief. 'It haunts me and causes me distress. 'Our only comfort is that Nick was with Jack at the time and I know that Jack truly loved him.' She added: 'I feel helpless that I can't do anything to help Mike's pain. 'Nick's death has had a profound effect on us. 'He is, and will always be, in our thoughts. Llewellyn, aged 25, of Park Crescent, Abergavenny admitted dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Mr Hartley said in mitigation: 'He's utterly devastated by his actions and the harm that his actions have caused. 'He knows that the apology is not enough but it is heartfelt and genuine.' Mr Hartley asked the court to take into account the defendant's guilty pleas and lack of any previous convictions. Judge Simon Mills told Llywellyn he couldn't be sure if he had been racing. He added: 'I realise your partner died but he leaves others behind too.' The defendant was told he will serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison before being released on licence. Llywellyn was banned from driving for 10 years and he will have to sit an extended retest.
Western Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire motorists in court
The six defendants were accused of offences including drink and drug-driving, speeding, refusing to take a breathalyser test, and keeping an untaxed vehicle. Their cases were heard at Llanelli Magistrates' Court. For the latest crime and court news for west Wales, you can join our Facebook group here. Here's a round-up of the cases. SEAN AGNEW, 58, of Vetch Close in Pembroke, has been banned after driving whilst over the drug-drive limit. Agnew was behind the wheel of a Nissan Qashqai on Hywel Way in Pembroke on August 1. When tested, he recorded having more than 92 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – the main metabolite of cocaine – per litre (µg/L) of blood. The legal limit – to exclude accidental exposure – is 50µg/L. Agnew pleaded guilty to a charge of driving whilst unfit through drugs at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on April 3. He was banned from driving for three years, and has been ordered to pay a £180 fine, £400 in costs, and a £72 surcharge. HANNAH RAWLINGS, 30, of The Paddock in Penally, was caught speeding on the A48 in Carmarthenshire. Rawlings was clocked by a manned speed camera doing 79mph in a BMW on the 70mph limit A48 at Pensarn on October 5. She pleaded guilty, and was fined £170 at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on April 15. Rawlings must also pay £90 in costs and a £68 surcharge, and had three points added to her licence. JAMIE WATKINS, 44, of Woodfield Grove in Cosheston, has been disqualified after being caught at twice the drink-drive limit. Watkins was driving a Ford C-Max on the A484 in Llanelli on August 2 last year. When breathalysed, he recorded having 71 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. Watkins pleaded guilty to drink-driving, and was banned from driving for three years at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on April 10. He was fined £345, and must pay costs of £85 and a £230 surcharge. BRENNAN FINDLAY, 31, of Isambard Gardens in Neyland, has been ordered to pay more than £1,000 after he was accused of using a phone at the wheel and driving without insurance. Findlay was charged with using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving a Citroen Berlingo on the A477 Llanddowror to Red Roses bypass on November 24. He was also accused of driving without insurance on that date. The defendant failed to show up at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on April 9, and he was further charged with failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle when required. The previous offences were withdrawn by the prosecution, and Findlay was found guilty of the failing to give information charge after it was proved in his absence. Findlay was ordered to pay a £660 fine, £110 in costs and a £264 surcharge, and had six points added to his licence. HOLLY WILLIAMS, 40, of The Cross in Cosheston, has been banned from driving after refusing to take a breathalyser test. Williams was accused of driving without due care and attention after she was behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz X-Class on the A477 at Haverfordwest on November 22. She was also accused of failing to provide a sample for analysis, after it was alleged that she refused to take a breathalyser test when accused of having committed a driving offence on that date. Williams denied careless driving, but admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis. She was sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on April 10 to a one-year community order. As part of this, she must complete 90 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Williams must also pay £400 in costs and a £114 surcharge, and was banned from driving for 17 months. The prosecution offered no evidence for the careless driving offence, and the court entered a formal not guilty verdict. SAIHOBA SUSSO, 60, of Cwmbach, admitted keeping an untaxed car. It was alleged that Susso kept or used an untaxed Vauxhall Corsa on the A40 at Abernant on November 20, when the tax had run out on August 27. Susso pleaded guilty at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on April 11. The defendant was sentenced to a £40 fine, and must pay £100 in costs and £40 in vehicle excise back duty.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Cocaine addict mother so ‘out of it' passers-by took her car keys and walked children to school
A cocaine addict mother was so 'out of it' on the school run a passer-by took her car keys and walked her children to class, a court heard. Hayley Berry, 36, was told by a magistrate it was 'one of the worst examples of drug-driving' he had ever seen. Other parents were concerned after Berry stopped her Ford C-Max in the middle of Grosvenor Road in Broadstairs, Kent, last year. A stranger – worried she was not in a fit state to drive – took her keys while others walked her children the rest of the way to their school, it was said. The police were informed and Berry was arrested at the scene and later charged. The mother, from Ramsgate, admitted drug-driving and driving while unfit through drugs when she appeared before magistrates in Margate on March 7. The court was told that when her blood was tested she gave a reading of 83 micrograms of the cocaine byproduct benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50. Magistrates heard she also had GHB – a drug with sedative and anaesthetic effects – in her system on the day she was arrested, but had not been over the limit for that substance. Lucie Fish, prosecuting, told the court Berry had stopped in the middle of the road with her children in the back on November 11 last year. Ms Fish said: 'A man took the keys because she looked like she wasn't in a fit state [to drive]. 'He put his hand up and stopped her and did take the keys, but then she parked up and some women walked the children to school.' Nigel Numas, defending, read out a reference from Berry's 'cocaine sponsor' – a recovering addict who helps someone to maintain sobriety – who said Berry had made some personal growth in the 24 months she had known her. The reference said she was now making better choices in her life, took responsibility for her actions, had genuine remorse and was determined to rebuild her life. Mr Numas added: 'The process [of her trying to beat cocaine] has been going on for a couple of years, but a man she was seeing gave her what she thought was a legal high and she drank it and didn't realise it was GHB. 'She's had two relapses [in the 24 months] so she's making great strides, but she was naive about what she drank.' Magistrates jailed Berry for eight weeks, but the term was suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. The chairman of the bench said: 'I must say this is one of the worst examples of drug-driving I've come across. You had your youngest children in the back of the car and you were out of it. 'I don't want to think what could have happened.' Berry was also disqualified from driving for 30 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 court costs. She will pay what she owes the court at a rate of £20 a month as she is on Universal Credit. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
17-03-2025
- Telegraph
Cocaine addict mother so ‘out of it' passers-by took her car keys and walked children to school
A cocaine addict mother was so 'out of it' on the school run a passer-by took her car keys and walked her children to class, a court heard. Hayley Berry, 36, was told by a magistrate it was 'one of the worst examples of drug-driving' he had ever seen. Other parents were concerned after Berry stopped her Ford C-Max in the middle of Grosvenor Road in Broadstairs, Kent, last year. A stranger – worried she was not in a fit state to drive – took her keys while others walked her children the rest of the way to their school, it was said. The police were informed and Berry was arrested at the scene and later charged. 'Wasn't in a fit state' to drive The mother, from Ramsgate, admitted drug-driving and driving while unfit through drugs when she appeared before magistrates in Margate on March 7. The court was told that when her blood was tested she gave a reading of 83 micrograms of the cocaine byproduct benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50. Magistrates heard she also had GHB – a drug with sedative and anaesthetic effects – in her system on the day she was arrested, but had not been over the limit for that substance. Lucie Fish, prosecuting, told the court Berry had stopped in the middle of the road with her children in the back on November 11 last year. Ms Fish said: 'A man took the keys because she looked like she wasn't in a fit state [to drive]. 'He put his hand up and stopped her and did take the keys, but then she parked up and some women walked the children to school.' Nigel Numas, defending, read out a reference from Berry's 'cocaine sponsor' – a recovering addict who helps someone to maintain sobriety – who said Berry had made some personal growth in the 24 months she had known her. The reference said she was now making better choices in her life, took responsibility for her actions, had genuine remorse and was determined to rebuild her life. 'Naive about what she drank' Mr Numas added: 'The process [of her trying to beat cocaine] has been going on for a couple of years, but a man she was seeing gave her what she thought was a legal high and she drank it and didn't realise it was GHB. 'She's had two relapses [in the 24 months] so she's making great strides, but she was naive about what she drank.' Magistrates jailed Berry for eight weeks, but the term was suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. The chairman of the bench said: 'I must say this is one of the worst examples of drug-driving I've come across. You had your youngest children in the back of the car and you were out of it. 'I don't want to think what could have happened.' Berry was also disqualified from driving for 30 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 court costs. She will pay what she owes the court at a rate of £20 a month as she is on Universal Credit.
