Drunk driver killed my Theresa on a Scottish road.. keep him locked up in a Scottish prison
Partner’s fury over jail transfer request
A drink-driver who killed an island vet after downing whisky has launched a legal bid to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in France.
Thomas Wainwright was jailed for 12 years after Theresa Wade died when the high-powered Maserati he was driving ploughed into her van on the Isle of Mull.
Theresa’s partner Charles Pease has hit out at the move and urged law makers to refuse the request. The 65-year-old said: “His crime was committed here, Wainwright took Theresa’s life here.
“He should rightfully serve his time here and then he can go to France.”
Wainwr ight was driving on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into 29-year- old Theresa at 68mph in his leased vehicle on the A849 near Craignure in 2015.
He was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow in 2017 for 12 years. The thug’s family are Scottish but he has lived in France for most of his life. He had been on Mull visiting his sick grandmother when he got behind the wheel drunk.
The Scottish Government last year refused a request f rom Wainwright under the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 to transfer him to the custody of the French authorities.
But he has now launched a petition for a judicial review against that decision at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. A full court hearing will take place in April.
Charles, of Kinloch, Mull, added: “I don’t think it’s up to the Scottish Government, myself or anyone else to pander to his wishes.
“I don’t really feel that in the five years that have passed since Theresa died that he has any right to expect to be granted the oppor tunit y to serve the rest of his sentence in France.
“It was said he was v isit i ng Mull at the time but really he was parading around the island in a hired Maserati. As far as I know, his mother went to live in France and it’s where he has spent most of his time. Presumably this is the reason why he wishes to return there. I just don’t approve or agree with it at all. It shouldn’t be allowed.”
Wainwright, 31, was banned from driving for 15 years after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
During his trial, the court heard how Wainwright had been downing cider and whisky for eight-and-ahalf hours before the crash and was travelling at speeds up to 95mph.
Witnesses from Mull told how Wainwright had been drinking at a hotel, a pub and a distillery in Tobermory before having another two pints of cider in the Craignure Inn.
Wainwright said Theresa had been on the wrong side of the road and caused the accident. But traff ic experts who examined the crash scene disproved his claim.
Following the trial, prosecutor Tim Niven- Smith revealed that Wainwright, who worked as the first officer on the £6.26million yacht MY Mahogany based in the south of France, had a previous conviction for driving while unfit through drink or drugs. At a court in Nice, he was fined €700 and given a suspended sentence.
Wainwright’s legal representatives did not respond to the Sunday Mail’s request for comment.
A Scot tish Prison Ser v ice spokesman said: “We are unable to comment on this matter as it is before the courts.”
The Scottish Government said they could not comment as the case was ongoing.
I don’t think it’s up to the Scottish Government, myself or anyone else to pander to his wishes