A 22-year-old Shropshire drink-driver who crashed his car into a house, killing one of his best friends, has been jailed for four years.

Denys Crowther-Smith had admitted causing the death of Matthew Latham-Jones when he crashed his car on Shrewsbury Road in Wem last October.

Passing sentence, Judge Robin Onions said the four-year term was not a “reflection of the value of Matthew’s life”.

Crowther-Smith, of Primrose Lane, Prees, near Whitchurch, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.

The judge also disqualified him from driving for four years, saying driving was a privilege, not a right.
Mrs Joanne Barker, prosecuting, told the court the accident happened at about 1.40am when Crowther Smith decided to drive from Wem to Shrewsbury after hearing another friend may be having some trouble.

She told the court he had been seen drinking and originally had no intention of driving.

She said: “Matthew Latham-Jones sat in the front passenger seat and another man, Stephen, sat in the rear seat. It was very foggy as they began their journey.

“Just before 1.40am on the morning of October 10 Stephen describes the defendant as turning his head to look left towards Matthew, losing control of the car and skidding across the road.”

The court heard the car travelled across the road, collided with a hedgerow and struck timber posts which entered the passenger side of the car where Mr Latham-Jones was sitting.

The car became airborne and crashed into a house. Mr Latham-Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.

Due to his injuries a blood sample was not taken from Crowther-Smith until 4.20am and it showed there was no less than 100mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Miss Jane Dagnall, for Crowther-Smith, said her client had lost someone who was like a brother to him.

Mr Latham-Jones, from Penley, near Ellesmere, grew up in Moreton Corbet and went to St Mary’s CofE Primary School in Shawbury, the Thomas Adams School, in Wem, and the Maelor School in Penley.