The wife of a factory worker who was killed by a colleague in an accidental collision broke down in court as she described the moment she told her children their father had died. Paul Heenan suffered a fatal brain injury after being knocked off his bike by workmate Gareth Robbins.
The 40-year-old father-of-two was cycling home from the Yuasa battery factory in Ebbw Vale on April 10, 2020, when Robbins, 33, pulled his Peugeot alongside Mr Heenan to say "I'll see you in the morning skip." But he drove the vehicle too close to the cyclist and the nearside of the car collided with the handlebars of the bike, causing Mr Heenan to be thrown into the air
The deceased was not wearing a helmet, hit his head on the surface of the road and suffered catastrophic head injuries. He never regained consciousness and died in hospital a day later.
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A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard a heartrending victim personal statement from Mr Heenan's wife Rebecca. Crying as she read the statement in court, she described the impact her husband's death has had upon her family.
She said: "I first met Paul when I was 14 and I knew instantly I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. He was the entire world to me and the reason I believe in soul mates. We shared the most incredible life together and I often referred to my life with him as a fairy tale. We loved each other's company and in 22 years we never spent a day apart. He was the most amazing person I had the pleasure of knowing. He had the kindest of hearts and was loved by everyone who knew him.
"Just when we thought life couldn't get any better Olivia and Cody came along. The love I had for Paul just grew stronger seeing him with our children. It's always been his dream to be a father and he was the most devoted Daddy. Apart from work and the gym, he spent every waking moment with his children. His world revolved around them."
Describing her husband's death, Mrs Heenan said: "My whole world went dark, a world that was so vibrant and coloured was completely black. Imagine being on the highest of highs from bringing your beautiful son into the world to be told a few months later the father of your children was not going to be a part of your future.
"The only thing I remember of my son's first year in the world is; me screaming hysterically on the drive of our house after just being told Paul was involved in an accident and unconscious; the frantic drive down to the Heath hospital where I sat in the back of the car hoping it was all a terrible mistake; the intensive care team waiting for me and the doctor telling me bluntly that there was nothing they could do, and Paul wouldn't be coming home to me and is children.
"Looking at my children for the first time knowing that they no longer had their Daddy here in the world to protect them. Telling my five-year-old daughter that her Daddy had passed away and all the nights that followed where we lay on my bed wrapped in each other's arms exhausted from crying.
"Our children didn't just lose their father that day, they lost their mother as well. Their fun-loving mother my daughter used to know is no longer and never will be again. Everything from that day forward has been tainted with indescribable sadness.
"I never wake from this nightmare and must live it every day. It starts as soon as I wake in the morning and only leaves when I close my eyes to sleep. I grieve every day not only for what I had but also for what never was and all the things we had planned. My future without him as a solo parent terrifies me. I become panicked when I think of all the years I will have to live without him, potentially longer than I had with him."
Robbins, of Cos Gwaith Dur, Ebbw Vale, denied two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, one of which involved towing Mr Heenan with his car, but was found not guilty of both counts following a trial in March. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving.
In mitigation, defence barrister Clare Wilks said her client was sorry for his actions and wished to apologise to Mr Heenan's family. She said: "If he could turns the clock back of course he would, and if he had made different decisions it would not have led to the death of the deceased."
She said Mr Heenan and Robbins were "long standing" friends and colleagues, and the defendant was "genuinely remorseful" for causing his death. In regards to his personal circumstances, Ms Wilks said his wife had given birth to a daughter shortly after the accident who had a number of health issues.
Sentencing, Judge Christopher Vosper QC said: "These cases are almost always tragic and this is a particularly sad case. We heard this morning Mr Heenan's partner Rebecca read out her statement describing the impact on her family and upon her. It was an extremely distressing statement even for someone to read without hearing it. It must have taken great courage on her part to read it court today . The consequences on her and her young children are obvious."
Robbins was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to carry out a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours unpaid work, and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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