Driver left man dying in road on Christmas Day
AN EX-RAF servicewoman, who was banned from driving, left a man dying in the road after she ran him over on Christmas Day.
Amber Thomas was banned from driving due to a medical condition when her red Ford Fiesta collided with 48-year-old Kenneth Haynes in Hospital Road, Pontypool, late on Christmas Day in 2019.
The 25-year-old had been out driving to see friends and to pick up cannabis when she hit Mr Haynes at between 44 and 49mph in a 30mph zone, a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard yesterday.
Mr Haynes was taken to hospital, but died three days later on December 28 as a result of his injuries.
On the night of the incident Amber Thomas stopped her car briefly but failed to help Mr Haynes and drove off in the car with her brother, Jake Thomas, 33.
Prosecutor Timothy Evans said Gwent Police were called to a report of a serious crash involving a red Ford Fiesta and a pedestrian in Hospital Road, Pontypool, shortly before 11pm on Christmas Day, 2019.
Mr Evans said Amber Thomas had been out visiting friends during the evening and later told police that she had driven home to pick up cannabis.
Mr Evans said CCTV outside Pontnewynydd Sports and Social Club captured the moment Mr Haynes crossed the road from Mill Road in order to get to Church Lane.
“The brake lights on the Fiesta illuminated just before impact,” he said.
When witnesses came out into the street, they said they saw Amber Thomas on her phone and “pacing up and down”, Mr Evans said.
Mr Evans said one man, John Walters, went to Amber Thomas’ car and took the keys out of the ignition, fearing she might try to drive away.
At this point, Amber Thomas handed the phone to Mr Walters, who heard Jake Thomas at the other end, who told him: “You better give her them f***ing keys back or I’ll come up and sort the f***ing lot of you out.”
Moments later, another car arrived, driven by Amber Thomas’ mother, with Jake Thomas in the passenger seat. Amber and Jake Thomas then drove off in the Fiesta.
Gwent Police officers stopped the car about two and a half miles away. Both were arrested.
Mr Evans said officers noticed Amber Thomas smelled of cannabis and she admitted she had a small quantity in her bra and had smoked one joint prior to driving.
Police also found a hunting knife and a knuckle-duster in the pockets of Jake Thomas’ coat.
Investigators later found that Amber Thomas had had her licence revoked by the DVLA in October 2018 due to her suffering from dissociative non-epileptic seizures. She was also uninsured.
Amber Thomas, of Beeches Road, Trevethin, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and possession of a Class B controlled drug.
Jake Thomas, of Andrew Close, Pontrhydyrun, pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article in a public space.
Jeffrey Jones, defending Amber Thomas, said his client is a former RAF servicewoman who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Eugene Egan, defending Jake Thomas, said his client deserved full credit for his early guilty pleas.
He said Jake Thomas had not been in trouble with the police since he was 15.
Judge Michael Fitton QC sentenced Amber Thomas to three years and eight months in prison. She was also disqualified from driving for five years and nine months and must complete an extended retest.
Jake Thomas was jailed for six months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete a 10-day rehabilitation requirement. He was also given an electronic curfew for a period of three months. Gwent Police said they were unable to issue a photograph of Amber Thomas.