A 20 year old drink driver, whose driving caused the death of his 17 year old passenger, has been handed a 6 year jail sentence.

Reports have detailed that the drink driver, 20 year old Tyrone Quinn, had a number of passengers in his BMW when driving through Newcastle city centre.

1 of those passengers was the deceased, 17 year old James Docherty.

The group had got into Quinn’s car in the early hours of the morning and was spotted on CCTV driving dangerously.

As he was speeding, Quinn approached a round about, lost control and crashed.

As a result of the crash, the BMW overturned.

Police and emergency services arrived a the scene at around 4am and found that the 17 year old, front seat passenger had suffered fatal injuries.

Paramedics pronounced James Docherty dead at the scene.

Quinn was arrested by police but hindered the investigation by sitting in silence through his interview. He did not even tell them his name.

The police launched an investigation following which Quinn was identified as the driver.

Quinn was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst disqualified from driving, causing death whilst uninsured, drink driving and drug driving.

In appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Quinn pleaded guilty to the matters put to him.

He was jailed for 6 years and 9 months.

Quinn was also banned from driving for 5 years, that ban to start when he is released from prison.

Following sentence, police released footage of the CCTV to highlight the dangers of drink driving and drug driving.

Senior investigating officer, Sergeant Steve Armstrong said: “We have released this footage to show just how dangerously Quinn was driving on the night of this collision.

“He was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs and was driving in a dangerous manner at high speed in Newcastle city centre on one of the busiest nights of the year without any regard for members of the public or the passengers in his vehicle.

“I do not get any pleasure from a case where a young man has lost his life and our thoughts are with James’ family at what must be an incredibly difficult time for them.

“This is a devastating reminder of how dangerous it can be to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs. People think that they may be invincible but the sad truth is that is not the case.

“The only positive that can come from this case is that it acts as a reminder to other motorists, young drivers in particular, that a vehicle can be a deadly weapon when it is not treated with respect.”

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3868472/CCTV-shows-driver-racing-city-centre-crashing-roundabout-killing-teenage-passenger-abandoning-car.html

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It has been reported that a man has been arrested after he failed a roadside drugs test.

However, the most distressing issue that he was drug driving with kids in the car at the time.

The driver, Ryan Proctor, was pulled over by the police as they noticed the kids were not wearing seat belts.

Proctor was then given a swab test by the police which showed that he had cocaine in his system.

He was then arrested and taken to the police station where he refused to give a blood sample for further analysis for drug driving.

He was then charged with failing to provide a specimen.

He later pleaded guilty to that offence at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that: “Officers observed him driving a vehicle full of occupants including two small children in the rear who weren’t restrained with seat belts and that was why he was stopped. Officers performed a roadside swab-swipe for the presence of drugs and it came back positive for cocaine and he was arrested and taken to the police station.”

Following representation to the Magistrates, the case was adjourned for sentence as they required a pre sentence report.

The driver, Ami Galliford who was caught drug driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance, with 2 child passengers has had her application for an appeal against her sentence refused.

The sentence was borne out of 2 offences. The first offence was when she was caught driving with a reading of 5.3mg of cannabis per 1 litre of blood.

The second occasion occurred when she was stopped on the M5. This time she gave a reading of 3.3mg of cannabis per 1 litre of blood.

However, it is the second of the 2 occasions when she was driving with a female passenger and 2 children, both under the age of 7.

 

The court had heard that Ms Galliford had never held a driving licence and had a variety of previous offences, many of which were for violence.

In sentencing, Ms Galliford was given 4 weeks custody for the first offence, 6 weeks for the second and 12 weeks for breaches of earlier court orders. The sentences were to be served consecutively.

She received a total of 22 weeks in prison.

 

Forming part of the appeal, it was submitted that Ms Galliford had a 4 year old step son with her current partner and was finding the sentence difficult to cope with.

In his comments to the appeal, the judge stated: “This defendant has an appalling record, and has the aggravating factors of no licence and no insurance.

“She had been made the subject of a suspended sentence order for driving with undue care and attention and making off without payment.

“Within five months she was stopped driving a vehicle. She was alone, and again she had no licence or insurance. What she did have was a reading of 5.3 micrograms per litre of cannabis.

“Four weeks later she was stopped again without insurance or a licence. She had children aged seven or under and a reading of 3.3. She has been given a chance, in September and October last year and in a way given a chance in May.

“She has never held a full driving licence and has persistently driven. We see nothing wrong with the sentence of six weeks imprisonment and nothing wrong with the four weeks to be served consecutively.

“We are firmly of the view that this defendant has brought this on herself. The existing sentence will remain.”

The appeal was dismissed.