Man who caused death of friend is back in prison

A MAN jailed for causing the death of his friend when he drove the wrong way on the M4 became hooked on drugs behind bars and has been sent back to prison.

Julian Bryan was put behind bars in 2007 for seven years for causing the death of his friend Louis Sultana by driving carelessly and has been jailed again for drug offences.

Speaking at Cardiff Crown Court, his counsel Steven Donoghue said Bryan was “profoundly affected” by the incident and became addicted to heroin while he was in prison.

The court heard two police officers were on duty in St Fagans Road in Cardiff on January 21, 2016, when a black Vauxhall Astra triggered their automatic number plate recognition.

Andrew Kendall, prosecuting, said they followed the car on to Waungron Road and signalled with blue lights for the driver to pull over.

Bryan was a passenger and his co-defendant Malcolm Martin was driving.

Mr Kendall said: “The officers could smell cannabis inside the vehicle.”

Asked if there was any cannabis in the car Bryan replied a friend had been smoking earlier in the day.

Officers found a cigarette containing cannabis in Martin’s pocket and just under 28g of heroin in the boot hidden with the spare wheel.

Prosecutors said it was an ounce deal with a purity of 20% and a potential street value of £2,770.

Bryan, known to other drug users as Fizz, was caught supplying heroin and cocaine on October 8, 2016.

The court heard he was seen by police in Grangetown to be involved in four exchanges around midnight near his home in Clive Street.

The 45-year-old was also seen in October 2016 riding a motorbike on the pavement in Ferry Road.

Prosecutors said witness John Sultana – the brother of Louis Sultana, who died in the 2005 collision – reported the incident to the police.

Dad-of-five Louis Sultana was 39 when he died after the silver Ford Fiesta Bryan was driving careered off the M4 near Bridgend in the early hours of November 21, 2005.

He was a passenger in the car travelling home from a party when Bryan, who was over the drinkdrive limit, drove the wrong way on the motorway and crashed on a slip road at Junction 36.

Bryan admitted four counts of supplying Class A drugs. He was convicted in his absence of driving while disqualified without due care and attention.

The offences were committed in breach of a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, that was imposed in March 2015 for harassment.

Prosecutors said Bryan had been before the courts for 45 previous offences, including dishonesty and violence. He was convicted of driving while disqualified in 2014.

Mr Kendall argued he was acting as a drugs runner.

Bryan’s barrister told the court Louis Sultana was his client’s “best friend”. He added: “The tragedy affected him profoundly. The shame still lives with him today.”

Mr Donoghue said Bryan became addicted to heroin while in prison. He said: “His life spiralled out of control.”

He said the defendant became involved in drug supply in a bid to pay off his own drug debts.

Bryan was jailed for three years and disqualified from driving for a year from the time of his release. He must still take an extended retest before being allowed behind the wheel.

Martin, 45, from Wembley Road, Canton, admitted possessing cannabis and possessing heroin with intent to supply. The hearing was translated for him by a British sign language interpreter.

In a basis of plea, he stated he was paid for driving and prosecutors said he was acting as a courier.

The court heard he has “serious” health problems and the police found he was a vulnerable individual. Marian Lewis, defending, said her client had no previous convictions.

Judge Neil Bidder QC found he played a limited role under direction.

Martin was given a 22-month jail term, suspended for a year, and ordered to comply with a fourmonth curfew.