A lorry driver whose reckless decision to view pornography on his mobile phone led to a fatal motorway collision has been sentenced to three years behind bars.
Paul Brigham, 52, was driving his heavy goods vehicle on the M6 in Staffordshire when he became distracted by explicit material on his phone. His inattention caused him to slam into the back of a stationary van, tragically killing its driver, 52-year-old Andrew Smith.
Mr. Smith, a devoted father-of-two from Liverpool, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near junction 15 at Stoke-on-Trent. The incident occurred in stop-start traffic on 7th July 2022.
Stafford Crown Court heard how Brigham, of Billinge, Merseyside, had been scrolling through pornographic websites for a significant period before the collision. Data extracted from his phone revealed he had been actively using the device for at least 40 minutes prior to the crash.
Despite the clear visibility and weather conditions, Brigham failed to notice the queue of traffic ahead. He made no attempt to brake or avoid the van, causing a catastrophic impact that pushed the vehicle into another HGV.
Andrew Smith's family delivered a powerful victim impact statement in court, describing their unimaginable loss and the profound void his death has left in their lives.
In addition to his prison sentence, Paul Brigham was banned from driving for four years and six months. He had previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
This case serves as a stark and tragic reminder of the deadly consequences of driver distraction and the illegal use of mobile phones at the wheel.
