Police hit out over 'reckless' young drivers

10:54pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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By Sally Henfield »

POLICE hit out over the "reckless and irresponsible" driving of Ashley Fielding after he was jailed for killing his friend in a high-speed crash.

Detective Inspector Andy Hulme said the death of Ashley Connell was a "dreadful waste of a young man's life".

And he called for young motorists to stop driving dangerously - and for people to back the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted Lives Campaign.

Fielding, 21, of Whalley Banks, Whalley, was sentenced to three years.

The family of victim Ashley Connell, 23, of Knowsley Road, Wilpshire, also welcomed the sentence and said they hoped it would make other young drivers think carefully before they got behind the wheel.

Front seat passenger Ashley was killed after being thrown from the Honda Civic Type R when Fielding lost control of the car on April 21 last year.

The court heard how Fielding was travelling at a speed of up to 86mph along Mellor Lane, Mellor, when he went over the brow of a hill and was forced to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting an oncoming car. The road has a speed limit of 60mph.

The red Honda clipped a kerb before ricocheting into two stone walls before ploughing into a Volvo parked at the side of the road near the Spread Eagle pub.

Music lover Ashley Connell, who was not wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene from severe head, chest and abdominal injuries.

After the case Det Insp Hulme said: "This was not an accident but was the result of reckless and irresponsible driving.

"It was a dreadful waste of a young man's life and should send a strong message about the devastating impact of driving dangerously.

"In 2007, 21 per cent of all injury accidents in Eastern Division involved young people, aged between 17 and 24 and we continue to work with agencies such as the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety to raise awareness and to educate drivers about the consequences of careless and reckless driving.

"It is important to remember that not all young drivers are irresponsible but education is essential and we fully support the Lancashire Telegraph's Wasted lives campaign in their efforts to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries caused by young drivers."

In a statement, the Connell family said: "We are pleased with the sentence.

"We have been overwhelmed by the help we have received from Ashley's friends and we would like to thank the police, in particular family liaison officers for their support during this difficult time.

"We urge young people to drive responsibly and hopefully this will act as an important reminder of the dreadful consequences we have had to suffer."

Mick Connell, Ashley's father, said in a statement read to court: "I don't think we can express the loss of our wonderful son Ashley. Our lives have changed forever, my family life was lived to the full and I enjoyed every moment. Now all we do is exist."

Burnley Crown Court was told that the other passengers sustained appalling injuries in the smash.

Christian Gillibrand, 20, of Ramsgreave Road, Blackburn, suffered massive internal injuries as a result of the impact and was critically ill in the intensive care unit of the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Julian Hollings, 23, of Ribchester Road, Blackburn, suffered head and lung injuries.

Sam Litherland, 21, of Longsight Road, Copster Green, sustained neck, back, lung and facial injuries and was on life support for three days Fielding suffered a broken shoulder and pelvis in the crash.

He was arrested after he left hospital. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving in January on the advice of his counsel, but changed it to a guilty plea in March, admitting driving at a gross excessive speed. As well as the jail terms, he was banned from driving for four years.

Prosecutor Timothy Brennand told the court the young men had been drinking in several pubs on the day of the accident - although Fielding had stuck to shandy.

The group had been rowdy, but the atmosphere was "happy and convivial".

The crash caused the group of friends to feel torn about their loyalties to both Fielding and Ashley Connell, the court heard.

Mr Brennand said that the Connell family had had a difficult time because of the actions of the defendant and his family.

He said: "If there had been some remorse shown it would have made their severe grief much easier to accept. They have described their lives as a living nightmare."

Defending Fielding, Mark Stuart, said that he had been wracked with guilt and remorse that it was his driving that led to the death of a friend.

Passing sentence, Judge Andrew Woolman said: "It is wrong to say that this moment was an error of judgement because it was not a short period of bad driving."