Cotswolds man jailed over quad bike death
Alex Evans has been sentenced to 24 months in prison.
Alex Evans has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for 3 offences in relation to the death of 22-year-old Grace Vater.
He received 24 months for each sentence which will run concurrently.
Grace died as a result of her injuries from a fatal collision involving a quad bike.
The accident occurred on the 23rd of December 2023 on Whitehouse Lane near Tetbury.
Evans who was 30 at the time of the accident was the long term partner of Grace.
Evans has been charged with death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while disqualified and causing death by driving without insurance.
Grace has been travelling on the back of Evans quadbike when she fell off.
A witness described how she was lying on the floor and was completely unresponsive and was bleeding from the back of her head nose and mouth.
Passers by had stopped their vehicles and began to administer first aid to Grace before an ambulance arrived.
Grace was airlifted to Southmead hospital where she died two days later on Christmas Day.
A post-mortem exam ruled that her cause of death was a severe head injury.
A victim statement written by Grace's mother Angela was read out to the court where she described how she has been left with anxiety after the ordeal and avoids going to the shop in her own town for fear of being asked how she is.
She said: "I feel utterly devastated every day, every minute of every day."
"I miss Grace every single day and the loss, the grief and the pain will never ease".
When giving his remarks the judge said: "In my judgement this was a case of young people taking a foolish risk".
Speaking directly to Evans he told him that leaving the scene after the accident was a "cowardly and shameful act".
In a statement released after her death her family said:
"We as a family are totally devastated to have lost our beautiful darling Gracie - a treasured and much-loved daughter, sister, granddaughter and aunty.
"She was the most kind, caring and beautiful soul inside and out and would help anybody that needed her help.
“She was loved by everyone who met her.
“A country girl with the biggest heart and a huge love for animals, especially dogs, pigs and cows.
“Our lives will never be the same without her, but we take comfort in knowing that Gracie is with her beloved dad.”
Evans must serve up to half of his sentence before he can be released on license and has been disqualified from driving for 6 years.