Disqualified hit-and-run driver high on cocaine jailed for nine yearsA disqualified driver who was high on cocaine when he hit and killed two young brothers in Coventry has been jailed for nine years.
Robert Brown, 53, of Attwood Crescent, Wyken, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court today after pleading guilty to causing the deaths of of Corey and Casper Platt-May in Longfellow Road, Stoke, on February 22.
His partner and co-defendant, Gwendoline Harrison, 41, of Triumph Close, Wyken, had a charge of causing the death of six-year-old Corey and Casper, two, dropped at the last court hearing.
She instead pleaded guilty to assault with intent to resist arrest, and was jailed for six months.
Rachel Brand, prosecuting, said Brown had never passed a driving test or held a valid licence but had driven since he was a teenager.
He had been convicted of driving while disqualified on 30 previous occasions.
Miss Brand described CCTV footage from the incident as "extremely distressing".
The court heard witnesses estimated the speed of Brown's Ford Focus at 60 to 70mph and that he was “driving like a mad man”.
Miss Brand said the family had been looking left and right before attempting to cross the road on their way to the park and, according to a passing cyclist, “did everything right”.
Two men who were working on a bus shelter nearby heard women and children screaming, and tyres screeching.
Miss Brand said one of them stopped Brown as he tried to flee the scene, while Harrison assaulted a bystander with a plastic bag filled with beer.
The pair were later found by police hiding behind a garden shed in Macdonald Road.
When they were at the police station they were four times over the legal drug-drive limit for cocaine.
The court heart that Brown had only been released from prison for driving offences six days before the horrific crash.
Brown was sentenced to nine years in prison for each count of death by dangerous driving, to run concurrently.
He was sentenced to a further four years for driving while disqualified, also to run concurrently, and has been disqualified for driving for 10 years and six months following his release.
Harrison was disqualified from driving for 27 months.
The prosecution entered no evidence for her on a charge of perverting the course of justice - which had related to her not telling the truth about the driver of the car - and two previous charges of causing the deaths of the boys by dangerous driving were dropped at the last court hearing.
Addressing Brown, the judge said: "Your selfish and reckless driving have torn this family apart."