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Family death crash father guilty Family death crash father guilty
(20 minutes later)
A father has been found guilty of causing the deaths of four of his children by dangerous driving.A father has been found guilty of causing the deaths of four of his children by dangerous driving.
Nigel Gresham, 37, of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, was driving his modified Land Rover when it plunged into the River Witham, in September last year.Nigel Gresham, 37, of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, was driving his modified Land Rover when it plunged into the River Witham, in September last year.
Willow, two, Angel, four, Thor, six, and Keavy, eight, died in the river.Willow, two, Angel, four, Thor, six, and Keavy, eight, died in the river.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Gresham, who denied the charges, had been driving too fast and the vehicle was not roadworthy. He will be sentenced later.Lincoln Crown Court heard Gresham, who denied the charges, had been driving too fast and the vehicle was not roadworthy. He will be sentenced later.
Gresham stood with head bowed and a number of people wept in the public gallery as the jury delivered its verdict.
Judge Michael Heath told the defendant he would adjourn the case until 23 January for reports.
The court had earlier been told Gresham's Land Rover had several "ill-judged" modifications aimed at improving its off-road performance and that repairs to it were also "incompetent".The court had earlier been told Gresham's Land Rover had several "ill-judged" modifications aimed at improving its off-road performance and that repairs to it were also "incompetent".
The car was estimated to have been travelling at between 50mph and 60mph (80km/h and 96km/h) when the incident happened.
The jury was told that moments before the crash, Gresham pulled over to allow another vehicle coming in the opposite direction to pass.The jury was told that moments before the crash, Gresham pulled over to allow another vehicle coming in the opposite direction to pass.
But as it mounted the verge, a bracket close to the rear axle snapped and the Land Rover turned on its side, rolling down the bank and into the water.But as it mounted the verge, a bracket close to the rear axle snapped and the Land Rover turned on its side, rolling down the bank and into the water.
Gresham, his partner Sara Bolland, 31, and their three eldest children survived.Gresham, his partner Sara Bolland, 31, and their three eldest children survived.
Two weeks before the crash, Gresham was forced to stop while driving the vehicle on an off-road course in Manby, Nottinghamshire, because part of its under-carriage broke.Two weeks before the crash, Gresham was forced to stop while driving the vehicle on an off-road course in Manby, Nottinghamshire, because part of its under-carriage broke.
'Avoidable tragedy'
Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the deaths were "an avoidable tragedy".Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the deaths were "an avoidable tragedy".
"He must have known, despite what he said to police, that this was a defective vehicle."He must have known, despite what he said to police, that this was a defective vehicle.
"He must have known it was in a dangerous condition and it should not have been on the road in the state it was in," he said."He must have known it was in a dangerous condition and it should not have been on the road in the state it was in," he said.
But the defence said the vehicle had passed an MOT test earlier in the year and denied the vehicle had been travelling as fast as claimed by the prosecution.
Giving evidence, Gresham said he blamed the oncoming driver and he told the court he had fought to save his children, saying: "I did everything I could for them".
The investigating officer, Sergeant Dave Kay, from Lincolnshire Police, said he hoped other motorists would heed the verdict.
"This is a time for no joy, no celebration, just sadness. I want to send a powerful message to all drivers in the United Kingdom about their responsibility when they get behind the wheel, including maintenance of that vehicle.
"You have a responsibility to yourself, to your passengers, to other road users."