Drug driver who killed a mum and dad jailed for more than eight years

A drug driver who killed a mum and dad in a horror crash has been jailed for eight years and eight months.
The Bateman familyThe Bateman family
The Bateman family

Robert and Paula Bateman died in the crash on the A142 near Chatteris on September 3 this year.

Their young daughters, Lexi (10) and 18 month old Elizabeth were both injured in the crash.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Today (Friday) Luke Norton (31) of Nocton Park Road, Lincoln appeared at Peterborough Crown Court where he was jailed.

Luke NortonLuke Norton
Luke Norton

Norton had been up all night the previous night taking cocaine and heroin, and was described as 'an accident waiting to happen'.

The crash happened at about 8pm.

Robert - known as Bob - Paula, Lexi and Elizabeth were travelling in a Ford Focus, while Norton was in a Iveco Daily van.

Former RAF technician Bob (36) and Paula (35) of Westfield Road, Manea died at the scene. Both girls were taken to hospital with Lexi suffering what police described at the time as serious injuries.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Members of Robert and Paula's family were in court for the sentencing today, and sobbed as details were read out.

The court heard when emergency services arrived, Lexi said 'Is my dad still alive, please let my mum still be alive' as she comforted her baby sister.

Norton had pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of driving with an excess amount of drugs in his system (benzoylecgonine) at a previous hearing. He showed no emotion as he sat in the dock today.

Robert Farmer, prosecuting, told the court: "The start facts of this case are as stark as they are tragic,"

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said Norton had made numerous phone calls on the night of September 2, showing he had had hardly any sleep, as well as taking class A drugs,

He said: "The lack of sleep and the drugs was a highly dangerous cocktail.He was a danger to all road users from the moment he started his van in Lincoln."

After travelling from Lincoln to St Ives in Cambridgeshire, Mr Farmer said Norton spent a number of hours working in a customer's house. He then left to go to Yaxley, but rather than go up the A1, he traveled via Fenland roads, which Mr Farmer said showed he was confused and disorientated.

Eye witnesses saw Norton's van veer across the road straight into the Focus. Mr Farmer said: "There was no time, hope or prospect' of Mr Bateman avoiding the crash."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said the only explanation was Norton fell asleep at the wheel.

Following the crash, Bob and Paula’s family said: “We are utterly devastated by this news. Bob and Paula were much loved friends to many and will be missed by everyone who knew them.

”They were also utterly devoted parents. Bob was a much loved son and father while Paula was a much loved daughter, sister and mother.”

The longest sentence he could receive by law is 14 years in prison.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Judge Sean Enright said he had no discretion in giving a one third discount on the sentence due to Norton's guilty plea, and the law said he could not impose consecutive sentences.

He said; "The sentence does not reflect the value society places on this mother and father. They were two very fine people, very good parents, with much to live for."

Mark Shelley, defending, offered little mitigation other than Norton's early guilty plea.

The Peterborough Telegraph has been campaigning for judges to be able to give longer sentences when drivers kill while under the influence of drink or drugs. The law will change next year to allow judges to hand down life sentences in such cases.