A driver who caused the death of three friends in a car crash in Merthyr Tydfil has been jailed for ten months.
Victims Ryan Gibbons, 20, Rhys Jones, 18, Joe Daniels, 18,all from the Bargoed area, were passengers in a white Seat Ibiza on October 11 last year, when it crashed into a telegraph pole on Aberdare Road.
Mr Gibbons, a father-of-one, and best friend Mr Jones died at the scene, while Mr Daniels died 30 days later from his injuries.
The car’s driver, John Spencer Graham, 21, admitted three counts of death by careless driving and was jailed for ten months for each charge at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday, August 12. The sentences will all run concurrently. Charges of death by dangerous driving against Graham were dismissed by the judge.
The court was told how five men were travelling in the white Seat Ibiza at the time of the crash.
Judge Daniel Williams said: “There’s no evidence of dangerous driving in the evidence of Cory Davies, the front seat passenger at the time of the collision.
“There’s no other eyewitness evidence from witnesses called on behalf of the prosecution in relation to the collision.
“In my judgement, the evidence is not sufficient to prove to the right standard that the defendant’s driving was dangerous, rather than careless.”
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Jones’ father, 43-year Vaughan Jones, said the family had been let down by the length of the sentence.
He told WalesOnline: “The sentence has absolutely ruined us.
“We were also told there would be a four-day trial for the charge of death by dangerous driving.
“And after the sentencing the prosecution didn’t come and tell us anything.
“Where’s the justice here?”
Outrage when a dog is dumped on a mountain yet people these days don’t even think twice when they read that a reckless young driver has taken the lives of three people and only gets a few months in prison for it, John Spencer Graham should never be allowed behind the wheel of a motor vehicle again, tougher restrictions need to be placed on young drivers.