Husband and wife killed when drink driver smashed into them at 100mph
The family of a married couple killed by a drink driver travelling at 100mph said the world has ‘lost its sparkle without them.’
Parents Graham Jennings and his wife Emma died after their car was hit from behind and caught fire.
Dewayne Brown has now been jailed for six years for leaving a hole in the family ‘that will never heal.’
Leicester Crown Court heard Mr and Mrs Jennings were coming home from a date night at the cinema when the tragedy happened.
Their Citroen Xsara Picasso had just joined the A46 when Brown careered without breaking into the back of it.
The couple, of Syston, Leicestershire died at the scene while Brown, 26, escaped with minor injuries.
Mr Jennings, 49, had two grown-up daughters from a previous marriage and two younger children – aged 10 and 11 – with Emma, 50.
His eldest daughter Celeste, 22, told the court this weekend marks the first anniversary of their deaths.
She added: ‘My dad and step mum were honest, caring people. They always were the centre of laughter in a room and the world has lost its sparkle without them.
‘Nothing can take away the continuous pain we feel from losing these people, but I’m glad he [Brown] is facing his actions and I hope he learns from this.’
Brown pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Mr and Mrs Jennings by dangerous driving.
Several eyewitnesses travelling in the same direction as Brown described how his Ford Fiesta ‘wobbled’.
Forensic officers said he would have been travelling at around 103mph when he collided with Mr and Mrs Jennings.
Brown, an operations manager, was one-and-a-half times the legal drink limit two hours after the collision.
He admitted consuming half a pint of cider and two bottles of beer in the afternoon as well as some rum.
Jailing him, Judge Robert Brown said: ‘You say you didn’t mean the consequences of what happened that night.
‘I’m sure you didn’t. But what happened that night was the result of deliberate actions taken by you that produced the consequences.
‘You took the decision to drive your car at 100mph for some minutes.
‘You took the decision to drink alcohol to excess before you got into that car.’
He added: ‘Mr Jennings was driving with his wife in a normal manner entering the dual carriageway.
‘No doubt because of your speed and the alcohol, which affects judgement and reactions, you turned into the carriageway when you could have carried on past him in the other lane.
‘You ploughed into them at grossly excessive speed.
‘These were two deaths that occurred in a manner that was horrific.’
Brown’s lawyer Steven Newcombe read out a heartfelt letter from his client, in which he said he was ‘beyond broken’ and ‘utterly devastated.’
Brown added he had frequent flashbacks and said to the family: ‘No-one should have to go through what you’re going through.
‘I was raised to understand all actions have consequences and I fully accept that.
‘I’ve left a hole in the Jennings’ family that will never heal.’
The court heard that Brown, the father of a four-year-old child, had no previous convictions and a clean driving record.
He was jailed for six years and banned from driving for seven.
Mr Jennings’ second eldest daughter also paid tribute to her father and step mother.
Libbie, 18, said Mrs Jennings was ‘inspirational’ and someone who was kind, caring and always put others first.
She said her father was ‘such a big family man’ and she had fond memories of cooking and cycling with him.
Libbie added: ‘I’ve lost more than I ever thought possible in such a short amount of time.’