Julie McDonald, the mother of Andrew Robson, who was killed by dangerous driver Jack Appleton, has spoken of her horror at seeing her son's killer in court. She said the teenager had taken away Andrew's chance to see his daughter grow up.
Crash in Murton
Andrew, 29, was riding his motorbike in Spring Road, Murton, when he was involved in a four-vehicle crash on September 22 2024, shortly after 7.30pm. Paramedics carried out CPR, but Andrew was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
Julie, from Wideopen, told ChronicleLive that Andrew, who attended Seaton Burn High and Gosforth High, was hugely loved and popular. Since his death, she said her family had been "numb".
Court process
Appleton, of Coach Lane, Hazlerigg, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Teesside Crown Court. Julie, 54, said: "This has absolutely shocked us. It's taken all of my energy - it's taken everything. The court process just triggers all of your traumas.. I've lost my mother, my father and a brother and the pain of that is horrendous, but to lose a child you have carried is a different kind of pain.
"It's taken me into a different universe - Appleton will never know the pain we have been through. We have spent two Christmases without Andrew, he has been with his family."
No remorse
Julie said she had looked at Appleton in the dock and hoped to see remorse, but she does not believe it has been forthcoming. She said: "He's never shown remorse. The judge told him he's going to get a custodial sentence - and his face never flickered. My knees would have been knocking."
Andrew was a father to young daughter Ayla with partner Danielle. Danielle previously paid tribute, saying Andrew had been the "best thing that ever happened" to her.
Julie added: "We want to see justice. He was the most popular person. The people who knew him knew how kind he was. He had a personality that drew people to him - but he also had a softer side that only we saw.
"His daughter Ayla, it's devastating, she hasn't got her daddy. He used to love talking about her future, things about her growing up or getting married - but that's all been taken away."
Julie also said she had seen footage of young people racing vehicles, which she understands took place in the circumstances of Andrew's death. She said: "It's awful, I can't get my head around it. These young people have got top of the range cars and they race them despite the risk to lives."
Appleton is due to be sentenced on Monday, October 12.
