YOU KNOW YOUR OWN WAY TO PRISON
MASERATI IDIOT JAILED FOR 12 YEARS Smug drink-driver killed vet Theresa, 29, after claiming: ‘The car knows its own way home’
A DRINK-DRIVER who killed a popular island vet after downing cider and whisky and speeding at 95mph in a Maserati was yesterday jailed for 12 years.
Thomas Wainwright, 27, was on the wrong side of the road and ploughed the high-powered car into a van driven by Theresa Wade, 29.
Wainwright had been drinking for eight-and-a-half hours that day but tried to blame Theresa for the crash.
Passing sentence, Judge John Morris QC told him that he had driven that day at “ridiculously excessive speeds”.
He added: “Just prior to leaving your final licensed premises, you were spoken to by a concerned member of the public who asked how you were getting home.
“Your reply was, ‘The car knows its own way home’ – a remark which is all too indicative of your general attitude to all that transpired.
“Prior to the accident, you drove at ridiculously excessive speeds – 95.5mph on a dark country road borders on the reckless.
“You have shown no remorse for your actions – quite the contrary. Your arrogance in giving evidence and in the social enquiry report is quite staggering.” The judge added: “In your evidence, you sought to put the blame on Miss Wade, knowing fully that her family were in the court listening to you.” Judge Morris said he had difficulty finding any mitigating factors in the case and also banned Wainwright from driving for 15 years. Wainwright showed no emotion as he was sent down. Last month, at the High Court in Glasgow, he was convicted of causing Theresa’s death by driving dangerously on the A849 in Craignure, Mull, on October 28, 2015. Wainwright was on the wrong side of the road and travelling at speeds of up to 95mph just before the head-on crash. A “black box” device fitted to the hired car showed that at the point of impact, he was doing 69mph. In court, Wainwright and his passenger Jerome Lopez, 42, tried to blame Theresa for the accident, saying she was on the wrong side of the road – but that was disproved by experts who examined the crash scene.
Tim Niven-Smith, prosecuting, said Wainwright – first officer on the £6.26million yacht MY Mahogany, based in the south of France – has a previous conviction for drinking while unfit through drink or drugs.
Witnesses from Mull told of how Wainwright – who was drinking with Lopez, 42, his mum’s partner – necked five 500ml bottles of cider in the Mishnish Hotel, a pint of cider in Macgochans pub, two whiskies in Tobermory Distillery and two pints of cider in the Craignure Inn.
When asked who was driving – as both he and Lopez had been drinking – Wainwright said: “The car knows its own way home.”
He then got behind the wheel claiming he “had a clear head”.
Theresa died at the scene of the crash less than three miles down the road, trapped in her van. The impact was so great that the engine block was pushed into the cabin.
Wainwright was on Mull his sick grandmother.
Outside court, Theresa’s partner of 10 years, Charles Pease, said: “The sentence could have been more but it doesn’t bring Theresa back.
“Has justice been done? Well, Thomas Wainwright will have 12 years to reflect upon that.” visiting Treat ear pain without prescription with triple action Earex Pain Relief Ear Spray - first aid for many common ear problems, including mild earache and accumulated earwax. Pick it up in pharmacies and medicine aisles nationwide. Earex the earexperts. Visit www.earex.co.uk