Frome drunk driver sentenced for killer crash
Declan Jake Jackson from Frome will serve more than seven years behind bars for causing death by careless driving
A man has been jailed after admitting causing death by careless driving whilst drunk, in a crash in Somerset last year.
Declan Jake Jackson (32) from Frome was driving a black Peugeot 207 on Sunday 19 March, when he collided with another car on the A371 near Castle Cary.
Jackson's passenger, 41-year-old Jossette Kemery was killed in the crash, which also seriously injured the female driver of the other vehicle.
In court Jackson admitted causing death through careless driving whilst over the prescribed limit for alcohol, causing serious injury through careless driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
He will serve seven years and nine months behind bars for causing Jossette's death, eight months for causing serious injury to the other driver and other sentences for driving while disqualified and without insurance, which will run concurrently.
He has also been banned from driving for 10 years.
Speaking at his sentencing Jossette's mother said: "The day my daughter Jossette Kemery's life was taken away was Mother's Day … My whole life completely fell apart.
"Every day is a struggle to get through.
"My heart breaks knowing her children won't ever see their mum again or be able to talk to her.
"They won't have her to pick them up when they're down or give them advice, or see them grow up or get married.
"Every Mother's Day will always be the saddest day of my life."
Jackson had been disqualified from driving just five days before the collision as a result of previous drink-driving incidents.
He was found to have about two-and-a-half times the legal limit for alcohol in his bloodstream following the collision, as well as the active ingredient of cannabis.
An expert witness said this level of alcohol would have significantly impaired his ability to drive, and that this impairment would have been exacerbated by his use of cannabis.
In mitigation, the court heard Jackson had no memory of the incident and had himself received serious injuries.
He accepted responsibility and expressed remorse.
Sentencing, His Honour Judge Paul Cook said he took into account Jackson's early guilty plea and ongoing problems with alcohol, adding that Jackson's decision to drink and drive had "devastating" consequences resulting in a "catastrophic" collision.
Officer in the case DC Peter Williams said: "Declan Jackson knew full well the risk he posed by getting behind the wheel.
"He had only just been banned from driving after damaging his own car in a drink drive incident.
"His decisions on Mother's Day last year had devastating consequences.
"Throughout the investigation, my thoughts have been with Jossette’s family, and in particular her mother and her children.
"For them, a special day on which we celebrate our mothers will never be the same again.
"My thoughts have also been with the driver of the vehicle that Declan’s collided with.
"She suffered serious and life-changing injuries because of Declan’s decision to drive while intoxicated through alcohol and cannabis.
"These injuries have greatly impacted the ambitions and life goals that she had, and she continues to receive ongoing medical treatment."
Drink driving accounts for around five deaths in the UK each week.
Reports of drink/drug drivers can be made online via this link or by calling 101.
Alternatively reports can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
If someone is currently driving under the influence of drink or drugs, always call 999.