The jail sentence of a van driver who had been drinking and had taken drugs before smashing into the back of a stationary car killing two young children is to be reviewed. Martin Newman, 41, collided with a vehicle carrying Gracie-Ann Lucas, four, and her three-year-old brother Jayden-Lee Lucas on Saturday, February 5 on the M4 westbound carriageway between junctions 28 and 29 in Newport.
Gracie-Ann died the day after the crash while Jayden-Lee died five days later. Both of the siblings, who were being driven home from a birthday party at the time of the incident, were also known by the surname Wheaton. In court, it was heard Newman was found by police to be more than twice the drink-driving limit after going out with colleagues the night before the crash, and had drunk 10 cans of Strongbow and taken cocaine once he returned to his hotel room. In the defendant's police interview, Newman said he was shattered during his drive back to Wales the next day, and had "nodded off" a few times.
At a sentencing hearing Newman – who admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, and one of causing serious injury to the children's mother Rhiannon Lucas by dangerous driving, and charges of drink-driving and drug-driving – was jailed for nine years and four months. You can recap the hearing in full by going here.
