A mother has condemned the justice system as a “disgrace” after a drunk driver who killed her two children was released from prison having served just half his sentence.
Rhiannon Lucas’ children Gracie-Ann, four, and Jayden-Lee, three, were killed when Martin Newman ploughed his van into the family’s stationary car on the M4 near Newport. Now, almost four years after the tragedy, 45-year-old Newman has been released halfway through his nine-year and four-month sentence - not under the Government's new early release scheme.
Mother describes release as 'pathetic'
Rhiannon, 30, from Tredegar, in Blaenau Gwent, described the length of time he had served as “pathetic”. She said: “He’s a free man to do whatever he pleases while my two babies are lying in a grave - the justice system is a disgrace.”
The family had been travelling home from a birthday party when they pulled over on the motorway because Gracie-Ann was feeling unwell. Newman, from Croeserw, Neath Port Talbot, had taken cocaine and drank vodka alongside 10 cans of cider before getting behind the wheel.
Details of the crash
His court case heard he was too hungover and tired to work but decided to drive home from Leicester anyway. He drank red wine behind the wheel and was twice the legal drink-drive limit when his Ford Transit van smashed into the family’s red Ford Fiesta. Traces of cocaine were also found in his system.
Gracie-Ann and Jayden-Lee were rushed to intensive care at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, while Rhiannon and the children’s father were also taken to hospital. Gracie-Ann suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of her injuries and died the following day. Jayden-Lee died six days after the crash on February 11.
Family's ongoing grief
Rhiannon said the devastating reality of Newman’s release was confirmed in a call from his probation officer. She said: “Today the probation officer called me and told me he has been released from jail. I’ll never hold my children again or hear their laughter again because of his selfish actions that day.”
Rhiannon said Gracie-Ann and Jayden-Lee’s younger sister, Summer-Gracie, now three, would “never get to meet her siblings who would have loved her so much”. The mum, who is now expecting another baby, said her unborn child will also grow up never having the chance to meet them. She added: “He destroyed my family and now he’s a free man.”
Rhiannon said: “Instead, I have two graves to visit on birthdays and Christmas and all the milestones my children will never see. I’ve got a life sentence of my own - one of grief, while he is free to live his life.”
Sentence and release conditions
Newman admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court in April 2022 and banned from driving for 14 years and eight months.
Newman’s release was not part of the Government’s early prison release scheme. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that death by drunk or dangerous driving offences have been "blocked" from recent sentencing changes.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “This was a devastating crime, and our deepest sympathies go out to the victims’ loved ones. Release does not mean freedom. Any offender released on licence must abide by strict conditions or risk being sent back to prison. We have blocked death by drunk or dangerous driving offences from recent sentencing changes, so hundreds more offenders stay behind bars for longer.”
