Market Drayton danger driver who killed best friend in crash avoids jail

Front seat passenger Will Bye suffered a brain injury when the modified silver Honda Civic left the A529 carriageway on a right bend at Audlem, near Market Drayton, at 5pm on November 27 last year.

The car struck a fence and came to a rest in a field.

Mr Bye, 24, of Red Barn Road, Market Drayton, died at the Royal Stoke University Hospital later that evening.

The driver, Stephen Whilde, also 24, had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving and appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.

Mr Geoff Whelan, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court the two men were friends and had been travelling at speeds of up to 79mph on the road which has a 60mph speed limit.

“The basis of plea was that the defendant was driving too fast and in excess of the speed limit to successfully navigate the bend,” he said.

Mr Whelan said accident reports had concluded that the car’s rear tyre rims were too wide for use and “contributed to abnormal wear” which resulted in a certain amount of over-steering as the vehicle was being driven at speed.

Whilde, of Newcastle Road, Market Drayton, told police officers he bought the car with the modifications already carried out.

Mr Andrew Holland, mitigating, said: "I would ask that my client be given full credit for his early guilty plea. Will was his best friend .

"He understands the grieving process that Will's family is going through.

"He sees it with his own family daily. He called the emergency services and remained there with him. He did what he could do. He even attended the funeral.

"It is a difficult case. He is remorseful."

Judge Jim Tindal sentenced Whilde to two years jail, suspended for two years. He banned him from driving for five years and ordered him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the community and pay £535 costs.

The judge said he had considered the sentence "carefully and in its proper context" under the guidelines due to "the unusual circumstances" and the close relationship between the two men.

He said he accepted the probation view that the defendant was at "low risk" of re-offending.

He told Whilde: "I give you full credit for your timely guilty plea.

"That means the sentence imposed can be suspended."

But speaking after the hearing Mr Bye's devastated family said they felt let down.

In statement, his parents Lesley Snook and Alan Bye said: "We are angry and saddened by today’s events and feel that the suspended sentenced passed by the courts was unduly lenient considering the pain and suffering all of Wills family are going through after his death while a passenger in a friend’s car.

"The sentence will not act as a deterrent against any other young adult driving in excess of 20mph over the speed limit, 80mph in a 60mph, and killing their passenger through dangerous driving of this magnitude.

"We feel extremely let down by the justice system, especially the judge today.

"It has been a second huge devastating loss nearly a year on from having Will so needlessly taken from us all.

"Emotions are running high and we continue to suffer Will’s loss daily.”