Man jailed for nine-and-a-half years for causing death by dangerous driving

A man has been jailed for more than nine years following the death of a woman in a fatal collision near Weston-super-Mare two years ago.

Matthew McGrath lost control of the Toyota Avensis he was driving along Kewstoke Road at about 9.50pm on 26 August 2024.

Emily Jordan, aged 20 and from Weston-super-Mare, was a passenger in the rear of the car and had been picked up by McGrath after he had been to the pub with her partner, who he was friends with. She was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision but sustained significant injuries, from which she sadly died on 1 September 2024.

The precise speed McGrath was driving at is not known, however witness evidence suggested it was approximately 60mph and significantly above the 25mph limit.

McGrath had been drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Expert evidence obtained throughout the investigation found it would have impaired his ability to drive safely.

Emily’s family said: “We are absolutely heartbroken by the tragic and needless loss of our beautiful Emily. She was kind, vibrant and full of life, with her whole future ahead of her – a future filled with happiness and adventure.

“That future was cruelly taken away by a senseless act of dangerous driving.

“No outcome will ever bring Emily back or ease the pain of losing her, but we are grateful that the justice system has recognised the devastating consequences of Matthew McGrath’s dangerous driving.

“Emily will always be loved, always be missed, and forever remain in our hearts.”

McGrath, from Winscombe, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing held last month to one count of causing death by dangerous driving.

The 23-year-old was sentenced to a custodial sentence of nine and a half years at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 14 August. He has also been disqualified from driving for 12 years and six months and must take an extended re-test before being allowed to drive again.

His Honour Judge Martin Picton said McGrath went out drinking in the full knowledge he was planning to get behind the wheel and had previously boasted about driving fast on social media.

Addressing McGrath, he said: “You chose to drink alcohol before setting off in your car, and you then continued to drink alcohol knowing you were going to be driving home. This demonstrates that you were utterly indifferent to the risks inherent in so doing…

“You were responsible for the safety of your passengers, as well as the safety of other road users. You showed no regard for that whatsoever. You should not have been driving at all, let alone driving in the manner that you chose to do.

“You were driving along a route you knew well. You commented how much you liked the road, no doubt because you enjoyed speeding along it. The bend where the crash happened is subject to a 25 mph speed limit. On the available evidence I am sure you were travelling at around 60 mph when you attempted to negotiate the turn.”

HHJ Picton recognised that Emily was a joyous person, after hearing statements about how loved she was, and remarked that her family face a ‘life sentence of grieving’.

Emma Ling, of the serious collision investigation team, said: “Emily Jordan’s death has caused enormous heartbreak to her family, and no sentence can ever end the pain and sorrow they continue to endure.

“Matthew McGrath told officers at the scene he had drunk ‘a couple of pints’ before getting behind the wheel and that he had no idea the speed he was driving at.

“Speeding and driving while unfit due to alcohol are two of the Fatal Five reasons that cause a large proportion of serious collisions. While these facts are well-known, sadly all too often we find ourselves responding to incidents of this nature.

“McGrath put himself and his two passengers in danger, as well as all other road users, and his actions ultimately cost Emily her life.”