Jail for 'wicked' death crash man

Daniel Storey's driving was described as 'suicidal and absolutely crazy'

A serial offender who admitted causing a woman's death by dangerous driving while drunk, unlicensed and uninsured has been jailed for eight years.

Daniel Storey, 29, from Rhuddlan in Denbighshire, was more than twice the legal limit when his car ploughed into a Peugeot, killing Amanda Coulton, 21.

Her parents organised a petition where hundreds of people called for Storey to receive the maximum 14-year term.

Judge Michael Farmer QC, at Mold Crown Court, described Storey as "wicked".

The court heard Storey had a string of previous convictions including two counts of driving while disqualified in 1997 and 1999 and drink-driving in March 2001.

It is important for the courts to bring home the message as to the consequences that will follow from dangerous driving Judge Michael Farmer QC

Nursery nurse Ms Coulton, from Dyserth, died instantly when Storey hit her car head-on while trying to overtake a tractor on the A547 road.

The judge said Ms Coulton's father Derek had spoken "in very moving and glowing terms" about his daughter in a victim impact statement.

Her loss had a devastating impact on her family and friends, he said, describing her as "a delightful and wonderful young woman".

The judge said: "I find it a deeply moving document."

The car she was travelling in was thrown into the air and landed in a ditch, seriously injuring the driver, Jack Wall.

Mr Wall, who needs further surgery for his injuries, said the accident had ruined his life.

Nursery nurse Amanda Coulter died instantly in the head-on crash

Another motorist described Storey's driving as "suicidal and absolutely crazy".

David Mainstone, prosecuting, said Storey had returned home from work at about 5pm and took his wife's car from the drive, despite not being licensed.

Later, he admitted having drunk a can of lager at home, followed by three cans of lager at a pub in Bodelwyddan, before driving home.

The court heard how tyre marks showed the Peugeot's driver had tried to break heavily, but no marks were found for Storey's Astra.

Mr Mainstone added: "He made no attempt to slow down or stop before the collision."

Cocaine

A blood sample showed that Storey had 189 miligrammes of alcohol in his blood, compared to the legal limit of 80.

He also had a trace of cocaine in his blood, but denied taking drugs and offered no explanation for how it got there.

Sentencing Storey, the judge said: "It is important for the courts to bring home the message as to the consequences that will follow from dangerous driving.

"Drivers must know that in such circumstances, no matter what the mitigating circumstances, normally only a custodial sentence was appropriate to reflect the gravity of what had happened and to deter others."

He said he had to sentence within the law, giving a discount for a guilty plea.

Storey, who has a partner and a young daughter, entered the dock on crutches, and with one leg in a frame.

Duncan Bould, defending, said Storey never wanted to drive again.