Drug-driver jailed for killing baby in crash

A drug-driver who reached speeds of 90mph has been jailed for 14 years for the death of a three-week-old baby in a crash.

Craig Nunn hit a car carrying Harley Thomas Wilkinson and his parents, on the A451 between Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn in Worcestershire, on 26 October.

The infant suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and died at the scene, and his father Jake suffered spinal fractures.

Nunn, 40, admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drug driving.

At the time of the fatal crash, Harley's mother, Imogen Bradley, was driving home with her partner Mr Wilkinson after picking their son up from her sister's home.

Prosecutor Cathlyn Orchard said Mr Wilkinson, having been "frustrated" trying to get Harley into his car seat, had him on his lap in the back seat for what should have been a short trip home.

Having gone through a red light, Nunn hit the rear offside of Ms Bradley's car so hard that it spun nearly 540 degrees, throwing Harley out of the window and into the road.

Ms Bradley told the court her world had been "ripped apart" by the loss of her "miracle" son.

"The loss is unbearable, I am broken and don't know if I will ever feel whole again," she said.

"He will always be a part of me. His absence has left a void that will never be filled.

"Every time I close my eyes I see Harley's face and the collision.

"I refuse to accept what happened even now. My world has been devastated."

Nunn, who appeared at the sentencing via video link from HMP Hewell, seemed to wipe away tears.

Adam Western, representing Nunn, said the defendant had "accepted his wrongdoing unequivocally" and did not wish to ever drive again.

He said his guilty pleas to all the charges he faced were an indication of his remorse.

"He has asked me on his behalf to express his sorrow for what he has done. Simply saying sorry doesn't undo the damage he has done or the pain he has caused."

Another driver estimated Nunn was travelling at 40 to 50mph in the 40mph zone as he ran the red light.

The court heard the defendant initially tried to claim his brakes had failed, but no faults were found with his vehicle and he would have had about 11 seconds between his traffic light changing from green to red until the collision occurred.

Data from the car found he had been travelling at about 90mph on a 70mph dual carriageway before the speed limit changed to 40mph ahead of the junction.

While his car was at a garage awaiting inspection after the crash, a knife, an imitation pistol and an axe were found inside the vehicle.

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