Motorist arguing on mobile jailed over death crash
A DRIVER who ploughed through a barrier and killed another motorist while rowing with his girlfriend on his mobile phone has been jailed.
A judge told Lewis Stratford: “This was a wholly avoidable accident which caused a wholly avoidable death. Only you are to blame.”
Stratford, 24, had made a series of emotional calls to his girlfriend before he lost control of the car.
She was on the line and heard the screech of brakes and the impact.
Electrical engineer Gavin Roberts, 28, on his way to a night shift, was left in a coma and doctors switched off his life support three days later.
Stratford, who has met Gavin’s partner Meg Williamson and apologised, said after the crash: “No one thinks it will happen to them.
“I’ve lost my job, lost my car and I’ve ruined someone else’s life. I learned the hard way but it shouldn’t take something like this.
“I was making calls to my girlfriend. I was scared of losing her.
“They were raging calls that shouldn’t have been made that night and I’ve got to live with that for ever.”
Decorator Stratford, from Oxford, was jailed for three years eight months at Reading crown court. He admitted causing death by dangerous driving on the A34 near Didcot, Berksshire.
This week tougher legislation came into force. Drivers using mobiles can now get six penalty points and a £200 fine – double the old amount. New drivers will lose their licences instantly.