Disqualified van driver jailed for killing 5 year old in Newcastle
A van driver who caused the death of a boy while he was disqualified for drink driving has been sent to prison for six years.
A disqualified driver - who killed a 5 year old boy in Newcastle - will spend Christmas behind bars.
42 year old Darren Jacques - of Hutton Hill, Penrith, was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court earlier, for killing Layton Darwood in August 2020.
Jacques was found guilty of causing death by driving while disqualified, following a six-day trial at the same court back in September.
The subcontractor’s employer had supplied him with a Ford Transit Tipper and trailer while he was halfway through a 42-month driving ban, imposed for drink-driving.
Jacques, 42, had travelled to Newcastle with colleagues to carry out utility work in Fenham and before making his journey back to Cumbria stopped off on Willow Avenue to buy a beer.
However, when he got back into the vehicle, he was unaware that Layton had climbed onto the trailer and when he pulled away, Layton tragically fell.
In the moments which followed the horrific incident, Jacques contacted his employer, who gave him the details of another man to supply to police.
While doctors and paramedics fought to save Layton’s life, Jacques lied about his identity and only came clean when officers from Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols department requested he use a mobile finger-print scanner.
Jacques, of Hutton Hill, Penrith, was arrested, taken into custody and after Layton died of his injuries later that night, was charged with causing death by driving while disqualified.
Today, he was jailed for six years and issued with a six-year driving ban which will take effect on his release from prison.
Addressing the court in a victim impact statement, Layton’s mam, Stephany Bloomer said: “The impact this has had and will continue to have can never be measured or explained. Not only did you take my bright, funny and full of life Layton, you destroyed a family.
“On that day, Layton was excited to be going on his first little adventure, especially as we had just come out of Covid.
“Getting sweets and cake was Layton’s favourite thing to do, he was so excited. Little did I realise this would also be his last adventure. Instead of seeing smiling faces I came face to face with the most horrific scene, as I had to kneel by Layton and watch while they performed surgery.”
Addressing Jacques, she added: “Cutting him open to massage his heart at the roadside, and while this was happening you were lying and trying your best to cover your tracks by giving false names. Not once did you ask if my son was OK or even alive.
“There was no remorse that day, or even for the three years you have dragged this out, for not letting this family grieve and just adding more torment and pain.
“I could talk all day about my wonderful little boy but you don’t deserve to know about a boy you showed no remorse over.
“Nothing and I mean nothing can ever take away the trapped screams I hold in my heart, my throat my stomach. The emptiness of life without Layton in it.
“This is now my life going forward, trying to heal the wounds unseen. So you see, no justice will be served in my eyes as I am left with a lifetime without him, and I’m the one who has to try and rebuild a family you broke.”
Speaking after the hearing, the officer in charge of the case, Sergeant Russell Surrey of Northumbria Police said: “The pain and suffering Jacques has caused Layton’s family is unimaginable. Today marks the end of the criminal proceedings and hopefully this will allow them to begin moving forward with their lives.
“Jacques was brazen - not only did he drive while banned and lie to officers, but he refused to accept his guilt and put Layton’s family through the anguish of a trial. He has shown no remorse.
“We all have a responsibility to drive safely and in accordance with the law. Layton’s death is a stark reminder that a momentary lapse of concentration, or failure to carry out the most basic of checks has the potential to destroy many lives.
“This case has had a profound impact on everyone involved, including the officers and staff who have helped bring Jacques to justice, and it goes without saying that no-one, especially a young child, should ever lose their life on our roads.”
An additional Victim Impact Statement written by Layton’s dad Stephen Darwood is below:
“I not only lost my son on this day but my best friend. My life changed forever that day. I will never get the chance to watch my son grow up and have a family of his own.
“Darren Jacques not only killed my son on that day but has in truth nearly killed me. Since the day Layton was taken away from us I have not only suffered mentally, physically, but financially. I have nearly lost everything, I have lost my job, I could not get out of bed due to PTSD, depression and anxiety.
“Not only has Jacques robbed me of my son, but also a sister of her brother, a brother of his brother, grandparents of their grandson and further extended family. What has made this worse was that Jacques to this day has not accepted any responsibility for his actions. We have had to sit through a trial to relive the events that took place that day over and over again. Listening to the agonising injuries Layton suffered and died with and the screams which I will never be able to forget.
“Darren Jacques has shown no remorse whatsoever by dragging this out and putting our family through hell and to make this worse, this could have been prevented and my son would still be alive if he had not been behind the wheel, driving while disqualified.
“No sentence will ever bring my son Layton back, or erase these memories and scars from my family but I hope the sentence justifies the crime as well as the heartache and suffering we’ve been through. I hope his time in custody will allow time to reflect on his actions and realise the consequences his actions have caused.
“I hope other people who learn of Jacques’ sentencing will think before they do the same thing and hopefully this will act as a deterrent. In time Jacques will be able to come out of prison and live his life but as a family, we will never get over the heartache, pain and trauma. Ultimately our lives will never be the same again.”