Mum blasts ‘you’ve taken everything from me’ as sobbing drunk driver is jailed for killing her kids, 3 and 4, in crash
A HEARTBROKEN mum today slammed a driver who killed her two children in a cocaine-fuelled horror crash as he was jailed for nine years.
Jayden-Lee Lucas, three, and Gracie-Ann Wheaton, four, were returning from a birthday party when Martin Newman slammed into their car at 57mph.
The van driver, 41, was twice the drink-drive limit and also had cocaine in his system when he was seen driving erratically in Newport, Wales.
After the horror crash on the M4, Newman was found crying with blood on his hands saying he "wished he was dead".
He also told police: "I’ve done some f****** s*** in my life but today I crossed a line."
Little Jayden-Lee was rushed to hospital but sadly died almost a week after the horror on February 5.
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His older sister died after suffering a cardiac arrest in the crash.
Their mum Rhiannon Lucas, who was also injured, blasted sobbing Newman as he was jailed for nine years and four months today after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
She said: "I feel lost without my children. No one understands what I'm going through.
"I know I'm still in shock and I haven't processed exactly what has happened.
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"I constantly feel like I'm riding an up and down wave and I don't know when it is going to stop."
She added: "The man responsible for this has taken everything I had. I don't care about me, I'm an adult who can fight and stand up for myself, but my children were not able to do that.
"If that man was not on the road that day my children would still be here."
Newman, who will serve half his sentence in custody, also pleaded guilty to seriously injuring Rhiannon and to being twice over the drink driving limit.
He was banned from driving for ten years with an extension of four years and eight months while he is in custody.
Sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams described his driving as "horrifying".
The family were on the westbound carriageway between junctions 28 and 29 when the tragedy unfolded.
The court was told they had stopped on the hard shoulder as Gracie-Ann was unwell when Newman drifted from lane three across the motorway at 70mph.
He then slammed into the back of the family's Ford Fiesta where the children were sitting with "catastrophic consequences" - braking just two seconds before impact.
'RED WINE IN CUPHOLDER'
The children's mum Rhiannon Lucas was taken to hospital with injuries to her liver.
Newman had earlier been seen driving erratically as he weaved in and out of traffic and spoke on the phone before making the fatal attempt to undertake a lorry.
He told police he was drinking and taking cocaine until 5am and only had two hours sleep when he chose to drive the three hours home.
Officers found an open bottle of red wine in the cup holder, which Newman claimed he had a sip of as his mouth was "dry".
Tests found he was over twice the legal blood alcohol level and still had traces of cocaine in his system.
Cousin Jamie Lucas, 19, confirmed little Jayden-Lee had passed away just days after his sister.
He said: "Unfortunately, after a week of fighting, Jayden has passed away.
“He was wonderful, creative and a kind soul. Turned the grey skies blue.”
Devastated Jamie also paid tribute to little Gracie-Ann after her tragic death on behalf of the family.
'SPECIAL'
He said: "I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that she’s gone; it’s hard to believe.
“She was so young. She had a bright future ahead of her. She was such a wonderful child.
“I’m just lost for words really. How she was returning from a birthday party and all of a sudden she’s gone.”
He added: “She was very smart, she was very creative. She had a really great imagination as well. She was just fantastic to be around.”
Headteacher Huw Waythe, of Deighton Primary School, described them as "special children."
He said: "We are shocked and saddened by the loss of two of our own. We will never forget how special the children were to our school community.
"They both put a smile on all our faces daily. They were a delight to have and both always lit up any room with their positive personality and beaming smiles.
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"Gracie-Ann and Jayden-Lee’s lives will continue to be celebrated and remembered by us all. They both have a special place in our hearts and Deighton Primary School will never forget them."
A set up to raise money for the siblings’ funeral has raised more than £11,500.
