A drug-addled driver who murdered a two-year-old and his father while operating a vehicle on the wrong side of the road while intoxicated at the time was sentenced to prison.
In January of last year, John Woodcock, 44, and his two-year-old son Lewis were murdered in a car accident on the way home from seeing their relatives.
Just after six o’clock in the evening, James Gibson, 31, was operating an Audi along Chesterfield Road North in Pleasley when he struck John and Lewis’ car from the side.
Gibson, aged 31, had been driving on the opposite side of the road, speeding, and he had also got behind the wheel after taking drugs.
He was also found to have run through red lights and undertaken other vehicles.
There was nothing Dan could have done to avoid the collision.
Gibson appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today (Monday 24 July) after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
He was jailed for 12 years and disqualified from driving for 18 years.
The mother and wife of John and Lewis, Caroline Westbrook, paid tribute to her two boys after the sentencing today.
She said: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to finally say thank you to everyone who has been there for me over this past year.
‘I would also like to say special thanks to the people who tried to help Louie and Dan on the night of this tragic accident, the innocent bystander, police, ambulance crew, doctors, and nurses at both Kingsmill Hospital and Queens Medical Centre.
‘I know we didn’t get the outcome we had hoped for, but I know all these people tried their very best to help my boys.
‘The two amazing ambulance staff who were there for me whilst we waited, I will never forget you and everything you did for me.
‘Now we have finally had the sentencing and this part is over, finally my boys can rest at peace and I and the family can try to build some sort of life where we try to come to terms with this horrific loss.’