The mother of a man who was killed when the car he was a passenger in flipped and collided into a concrete fence said his six-year-old daughter has had to grow up without a father. Karen West said her and her family’s lives have “changed forever” following the death of her son.
Callum West, 27, was killed by the actions of drink-driver Jason Bradford, 34, who had drunk around five pints of lager before driving a silver Renault Clio at speed whilst disqualified. A collision in Hengoed, Caerphilly, on November 14, 2020, saw the vehicle flip and collide into a concrete fence, resulting in the death of Mr West and causing serious injuries to fellow passenger Ryan Waters, 24.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard the three men had been drinking at the Junction Inn in Hengoed before a witness later described seeing the Clio flip upside down and collide with a concrete fence, causing debris to fly past him with glass everywhere. The first emergency responders arrived at the scene at around 10.50pm where members of the public had crowded around the vehicle, with attempts made to administer first aid.
A police officer described Mr West as “motionless and unresponsive” with Mr Waters groaning in pain and drifting in and out of consciousness with a severe head injury which was bleeding. Mr West’s pulse could not be found and he was declared dead at the scene at around 11.36pm. All three men had to be cut from the wreckage by the fire brigade.
A post mortem examination was carried out on Mr West’s body and a cause of death was given as contusions and a subarachnoid haemorrhage. He had also suffered a fractured skull and blunt vehicular trauma.
Jason Bradford, 34, killed his friend Callum West and seriously injured Ryan Waters in a collision in Hengoed, Caerphilly, when the car he was driving flipped and crashed into a concrete fence.
(Image: Gwent Police)
Bradford was sentenced to six years and seven months imprisonment for his actions. He was disqualified from driving for seven years, from the time he is released from custody. Bradford had previously been jailed for eight months and disqualified from driving for two years and four months after he was convicted of dangerous driving in 2018.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Mr West’s mother Karen West said: “Four years, one month and 24 days ago, the day our lives changed forever. We stand here today not just in memory of Callum but for those individuals whose hearts have been irreversibly shattered. We could talk all day about the memories we all hold of Callum and how much of a loved son, brother, cousin, uncle, nephew and friend he was and will always be. Most importantly, Callum was an amazing father to his then six-year-old daughter, Jessica, who is now growing up without the support and guidance of her beloved dad… We have all had to come together to act in the role of dad to make sure she’s always well cared for. She misses him every day and visits his grave which she decorates with sticks spelling ‘I love you’. His death has left a void words can barely describe. The pain inflicted by the choices made on the day of Callum’s death is profound and everlasting.
“Our lives changed forever and each year is a painful reminder of a cherished soul we badly miss. Three people made bad choices on that night and have faced the consequences. The judge in the previous case said it was sheer luck (Bradford) did not kill or injure anyone but he did not heed this warning. He seeks sympathy for self-inflicted injuries. For over four years Bradford was allowed to live his life freely. He claimed to be unfit to stand trial, yet he was fit enough to get married only a few months after the crash, living the life that Callum will never get the chance to live. All while the lives of his victims’ families have been put on hold. He has dragged this out for four years, laughing in the face of Callum’s family and the criminal justice system…
“The crash has had a traumatic effect on our lives resulting in the need for counselling, medication and time off work. It has caused us anger the defendant has shown a lack of sympathy or remorse and has never acknowledged or made eye contact with us during this time. We accept it was Callum’s choice to get in that car, however (the defendant’s) actions since this incident in prolonging this case has prolonged our closure and grief. His behaviour during the mental health assessment has highlighted a lack of respect to staff. We believe during the time he’s spent in prison, he’s shown no remorse or rehabilitation for what he has done. As a family we do not accept his late guilty plea, we see this as a ploy to reduce this sentence and no genuine remorse.
“We understand that no legal outcome can bring Callum back or restore what we have lost. However, we hope by sharing our pain and frustration today we can emphasise the grave consequences of reckless decisions. Justice for Callum cannot reverse that damage, but it can be a solemn reminder of the value of life and the heavy cost of negligence.”
In mitigation, Nick Gedge told the court there were genuine concerns for his client’s psychiatric state and that he suffered serious injuries in the collision which has left him with memory issues. He said the defendant has “deep remorse” for the death of Mr West and the injuries caused to Mr Waters. The barrister said it was possible Bradford was under the drink drive limit at the time of the collision, and he submitted his client had drunk only five pints, and not seven as estimated by the bar manager at the pub. He said the defendant was brought up by his grandmother, but is supported by his mother and wife.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Mill said: “You made a grossly irresponsible decision to drive having been disqualified from driving and having drunk approximately five pints of lager. No responsible person would drive in those circumstances.”
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