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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Family death crash father jailed | Family death crash father jailed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A father convicted of causing the deaths of four of his children by dangerous driving has been jailed for two years. | A father convicted of causing the deaths of four of his children by dangerous driving has been jailed for two years. |
| Nigel Gresham, 37, a father of seven, was found guilty in December at Lincoln Crown Court. | Nigel Gresham, 37, a father of seven, was found guilty in December at Lincoln Crown Court. |
| Gresham crashed his "unroadworthy" Land Rover into the River Witham in Lincolnshire, in September 2007. | Gresham crashed his "unroadworthy" Land Rover into the River Witham in Lincolnshire, in September 2007. |
| The judge described the vehicle as "an accident waiting to happen" that should not have been on the road. | The judge described the vehicle as "an accident waiting to happen" that should not have been on the road. |
| Gresham's children Willow, two, Angel, four, Thor, six, and eight-year-old Keavy died as a result of the crash. | Gresham's children Willow, two, Angel, four, Thor, six, and eight-year-old Keavy died as a result of the crash. |
| During the trial the court was told Gresham, formerly of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, was driving too fast and his vehicle was not roadworthy. | During the trial the court was told Gresham, formerly of Chapel Hill, Lincolnshire, was driving too fast and his vehicle was not roadworthy. |
| I find it hard to understand how you could place the lives of your partner and seven children in grave danger Judge Michael Heath | I find it hard to understand how you could place the lives of your partner and seven children in grave danger Judge Michael Heath |
| The Land Rover had many "ill-judged" modifications designed to improve its off-road performance, the court heard. | The Land Rover had many "ill-judged" modifications designed to improve its off-road performance, the court heard. |
| Judge Michael Heath told Gresham at the sentencing that the accident was "horrendous" and his Land Rover "should not have been on the road". | Judge Michael Heath told Gresham at the sentencing that the accident was "horrendous" and his Land Rover "should not have been on the road". |
| "It was, to coin a phrase, an accident waiting to happen. | "It was, to coin a phrase, an accident waiting to happen. |
| "The vehicle was in appalling condition, its many and various defects were plain from the expert evidence given at trial." | "The vehicle was in appalling condition, its many and various defects were plain from the expert evidence given at trial." |
| The judge said collision investigators had never seen such a badly-maintained vehicle before. | The judge said collision investigators had never seen such a badly-maintained vehicle before. |
| The four children died after the 4x4 crashed into the River Witham The judge added: "Not only would it have been blindingly obvious that driving the Land Rover in that condition would be dangerous, but you also drove it in a dangerous manner. You were driving that Land Rover too fast for that road. | |
| "I find it hard to understand how you could place the lives of your partner and seven children in grave danger by allowing them to travel in such a vehicle." | "I find it hard to understand how you could place the lives of your partner and seven children in grave danger by allowing them to travel in such a vehicle." |
| Gresham was driving along Witham Bank at between 50mph and 60mph when he met a white Transit van towing a trailer of canoes coming in the opposite direction. | Gresham was driving along Witham Bank at between 50mph and 60mph when he met a white Transit van towing a trailer of canoes coming in the opposite direction. |
| He pulled the Land Rover over to the near side but as it mounted the grass verge a bracket close to the rear axle snapped, causing it to turn on its side then flip over and roll down the bank. | He pulled the Land Rover over to the near side but as it mounted the grass verge a bracket close to the rear axle snapped, causing it to turn on its side then flip over and roll down the bank. |
| 'Rebuild lives' | |
| Members of the public rushed to the aid of the family, but four of Gresham's seven children did not survive. | Members of the public rushed to the aid of the family, but four of Gresham's seven children did not survive. |
| Gresham, who had denied the charges, told the jury he "did everything he could" and claimed he was in a "no-win situation". | Gresham, who had denied the charges, told the jury he "did everything he could" and claimed he was in a "no-win situation". |
| The children's mother, Sara Bolland, said: "The prison sentence for Nigel, I don't feel it's enough for my children's lives but also I am sure he is very sorry for what happened." | |
| Lincolnshire Police Sergeant Dave Kay said: "It has been a long and difficult investigation, probably the most difficult collision investigation I have had to deal with in my 29 years. | |
| "I just hope the family can start to rebuild their lives, and that includes Nigel Gresham as well." |