Passenger begged driver to slow down before death crash
TRAGIC mum Paula Tiffin begged killer driver Bradley Webb to stop before the crash that killed her. The mother-of-11 died from the catastrophic injuries she suffered when she was a front seat passenger in Webb’s car, which smashed into a wall as he tried to flee police.
Diane Coffell, who was in the back of the car, also suffered serious injuries in the crash, which happened during the early hours on the morning in Houghton-le-Spring.
Webb was yesterday jailed for six years and eight months for causing Paula’s death by dangerous driving.
And Newcastle Crown Court heard how the mum had begged him to slow down and stop in the moments before the crash that killed her.
In sentencing the 25-year-old, Judge Stephen Earl said: “This was an entirely unnecessary set of circumstances. The defendant was driving in an appalling manner to evade capture by police.
“No thought was given to those who were in the vehicle at the time, there was very little the passengers could have done other than remonstrate with him.”
The court heard how Webb, who has never held a driving licence and had no insurance, was behind the wheel of a Renault Megane he had recently purchased for just £50 when the tragedy unfolded.
Paula and Diane, who were both close friends of his, were his passengers.
The car was spotted by police in the Carrville area of Durham, during the early hours of August 23, Lee Fish, prosecuting, explained.
But when officers turned on their blue lights and signalled to the driver to stop, Webb drove off at speed.
The court was shown CCTV footage of the pursuit that followed, in which Webb’s car can be seen driving at speed through residential areas, going through red lights and crossing onto the wrong side of the road.
The car reached speeds of more than 70mph in more rural areas, and was “significantly” over the speed limit throughout the pursuit.
Webb, who was appearing in court via video-link, put his head in his hands as the moment of the crash was shown.
Mr Fish said: “At just after 2.15am this defendant’s vehicle was seen in the
Carrville area of Durham.
“Officers illuminated lights and indicated for the vehicle to stop. The vehicle did not stop, what followed was a pursuit.
“He has never held a driving licence, he was not insured to drive the vehicle and he has been disqualified from driving in the past.
“To evade police there was a high speed pursuit through residential areas. The pursuit lasted for about eight minutes and came to and end when the defendant’s vehicle crashed into a wall.”
Diane and Paula were taken to hospital following the smash, but Paula, 53, died of serious abdominal injuries two days later, the court was told.
In a victim personal statement read to the court, Diane told how Paula had screamed at Webb to stop during the pursuit.
Mr Fish said: “She described the manner of the driving as dangerous, and how as soon as the defendant saw the police he started to drive very fast.
“She was frightened. She could recall Miss Tiffin saying; ‘No Brad, no’ and telling him to slow down.”
But Webb swore at her and told her to “shut up” the statement said.
Diane went on to describe how the crash happened when Webb lost control of the car after hitting a crossing in the road.
Mr Fish explained how Diane spent weeks in intensive care having suffered broken ribs, two punctured lungs, a fractured coxis and a torn aerota.
Following the crash toxicology tests found Webb had amphetamines in his system. And an examination of his car revealed the Megane was “in a dangerous condition” and would not have passed an MOT.
At previous hearings Webb, of Queens Street in Hetton-le-Hole, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and failing to stop.
The court heard his previous convictions include driving offences, and he was on a suspended sentence for burgalry and breaking a restraining order at the time of the crash.
Liam O’Brien, mitigating, explained how Webb accepted full responsibility for the crash, and would be haunted by the loss of Paula’s life.
As well as the jail sentence Webb will be banned from driving for eight years and four months.