After racing their automobiles through the Forest of Dean, two guys killed a mother of two. They were sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.
Terri-Ann Marshall was driving a Mini in the opposite direction when 32-year-old Tom Hill lost control of his car while attempting to keep up with Lyndon Parsons, who is 26 years old.
The crash happened on Friday, January 28, 2022, just after 5:00 p.m. on the B4228 close to Sling.
Prior to agreeing to go to Parsons’ house in St. Briavels to view a car that he was selling, Hill travelled to visit Parsons at his vape shop in Coleford, according to testimony given at Gloucester Crown Court.
As they departed the town, they started racing each other in performance-enhanced vehicles: Parsons’ was a Volkswagen Golf GTI and Hill’s was a Ford Fiesta ST.
Expert collision investigators were able to demonstrate that, during their trip, they had been travelling along highways with a 50 mph speed limit, sometimes reaching up to 100 mph.
The two automobiles came to a bend in the road and the brow of a hill shortly after passing through Sling.
Because Hill was moving at an estimated 90 mph, Parsons, who was in front, was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and it went into the other side of the carriageway. However, Parsons knew the road and was able to manage it.
He ran into a Mini being driven by 36-year-old Terri-Ann Marshall, who died on impact. Hill’s impact speed was found to be 73 mph.
The court heard that Parsons heard the bang and saw Hill’s car spinning out of control. He assumed that Hill had collided with a bus that had driven in the opposite direction, and returned to the scene to see what had happened.
Parsons called his girlfriend, Lucy Alexander, and told her to meet him outside her flat a few miles away.
He formulated a plan and, driving to her home, they both got into her Seat Ibiza and returned once again to the scene.
Working together, they told police that they had been driving to St Briavels together in the Seat Ibiza when they heard the collision behind them, and claimed not to know Hill.
Hill, who was taken to hospital after injuring his back in the collision, told investigators that he had been going at the speed limit when he had hit mud on the road, causing him to skid into the path of Miss Marshall’s Mini.
However, later that evening Parsons and Alexander visited Hill’s then girlfriend to tell her what had happened. She called police the following day and told them about their confession to her.
All three were subsequently arrested.
Hill, of Walford Avenue, Ross-on-Wye, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Parsons, of Smithville Close, St Briavels, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice, after lying to police about his involvement.
Alexander, aged 23 and of Carbonne Close, Monmouth, was charged with perverting the course of justice.
Although they initially denied the charges, they eventually admitted their guilt.
In mitigation, the three defendants said that they had made errors in judgment and would have to live with the consequences of their actions.
Appearing at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (22 March), Hill was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison while Parsons was handed a jail sentence of eight years. They must serve half before being eligible for release on licence.
Alexander was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for perverting the course of justice.
Hill was also disqualified from driving for eight-and-a-half years, while Parsons was disqualified for nine years.
Sentencing the two men, His Honour Judge Ian Laurie KC said: “What you indulged in was racing and showing off to each other. You were attempting to prove your driving ability.
“Both of you showed a complete and utter disregard for other road users.”
Speaking after the sentencing, the family of Terri-Ann Marshall issued a statement through police: “The family of Miss Terri-Ann Marshall would like to extend their sincere thanks to everyone involved in collating the overwhelming evidence to finally bring these people to justice, although it must be said no amount of sentencing could ever make up for the complete devastation that has been caused by such recklessness, selfishness and dishonesty.
“It has been an incredibly hard couple of years, however, we now feel we have some kind of closure in this case, and can move forward in our grieving.
“The family would like to summarise with this quote: Nothing happens by chance, by fate. You create your own fate by your actions. That’s karma.”
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “Driving at speeds on roads like this will inevitably lead to a serious collision. Hill and Parsons had shown a reckless disregard for anybody else in the road in their behaviour.
They not only showed no remorse for their acts, which led to Miss Marshall’s untimely death, but they also continued to lie about what had transpired, entangling Alexander in their deceit.
“But these lies quickly came to light, and our investigating officers’ tenacity and commitment revealed the reality of what had actually occurred.
“Our thoughts are with Miss Marshall’s family and we hope that this will help to bring a sense of closure for them.”
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