Driver's u-turn in fatal M4 crash

Jeffrey Green from Swansea died at the scene of the collision

A man who did a U-turn on the M4 and drove for five miles in the wrong lane before a head-on crash in which a man died has been jailed for four years.

Thomas Davies, 38, from Llanybydder, Carmarthenshire, had never driven on a motorway and ignored frantic warnings.

He had previously admitted causing the death of Jeffrey Green, 64, of Dyfatty, Swansea, by dangerous driving.

The judge at Swansea Crown Court said no term could erase the anguish of Mr Green's relatives.

The court heard that on 29 September last year Davies, also known as Danny, drove his mother to Morriston Hospital in Swansea to visit his brother.

On leaving he took the wrong turn and ended up on the eastbound carriageway where he continued until he passed Port Talbot.

All of the witnesses noted the man was travelling calmly and steadily without any apparent recognition that he was doing anything wrong Janet Gedrych, prosecuting

Realising his mistake, he performed a U-turn and started heading west in the eastbound lane.

Janet Gedrych, prosecuting, said: "All of the witnesses noted the man was travelling calmly and steadily without any apparent recognition that he was doing anything wrong."

The court was shown clips from cameras showing Davies travelling between 45 - 50mph the wrong way down the outside lane.

Motorists on both sides of the carriageway attempted to signal to him, and some who were travelling west on the correct side of the road sped ahead in a bid to alert drivers on the eastbound carriageway.

Davies travelled five-and-a-half miles before crashing head-on with Mr Green's car.

Emergency services at the crash scene on the M4 at Port Talbot

His passengers Paul and Christine Evans both suffered extensive and permanent injuries.

Self-employed jeweller Mr Evans, 51, suffered a fractured skull, lost the sight in one eye and the court was told it was doubtful he would ever work again.

It is unlikely Mrs Evans, 57, will ever walk again, the court heard.

Davies' mother, 67, also sustained serious injuries and was unconscious in hospital for 13 days. Davies suffered minor injuries.

He told police he was not used to roads, was concerned he was running out of petrol and was looking for a roundabout to get back into the correct lane.

Ms Gedrych said Mr Green's widow Barbara was on medication and "since Jeffrey's death she does not see any point in life".

Remorse

Huw Rees, defending, said his client had shown remorse.

Extracts from a psychiatric report read out in court said that Davies "exhibited features of intellectual impairment" and "shows deficits of fully understanding the consequences of his actions".

Mr Rees said Davies "literally did not know how dangerous his actions were".

He said although Davies had held a licence for 11 years, he had never driven on anything but single carriageway roads.

Judge Christopher Morton said: "A life can't be measured in terms of a prison sentence."

He said no term could ever erase "the anguish of those relatives of the deceased".

Davies is to serve half the term in prison and the remainder on licence.

He has already surrendered his licence and was banned from driving for five years.