The family of an army veteran killed by a dangerous driver have paid tribute to a "beloved son with an infectious zest for life". Andrew Lister, 36, was waiting at a red light in his car when another driver smashed into him from behind, a court heard.
Mr Lister sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital alongside his partner, Laura Whatton, who suffered multiple fractures. He died in hospital, reports Nottingham Post.
Crash details and conviction
The court heard that Rowan Grant, 34, a disqualified driver, had been undertaking and weaving in and out of traffic, and had accelerated to 87mph four-and-a-half seconds before colliding with Mr Lister's vehicle on the A610 on Nuthall Road at about 12.30pm on December 9 last year. Grant, of Bilborough, was also treated by medics and was found to be "considerably over the limit" for the main component of cannabis.
He initially told police that it was not him driving the car, claiming his girlfriend had "run off" from the scene. Jailing him for 10 years on Tuesday, September 29, Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said: "When you decided to drive that car, and from the moment you did drive it, you drove it dangerously." The judge added: "You were playing Russian roulette with yourself but when you pulled the trigger the bullet hit others and you killed a 36-year-old man."
Family's tribute
In a statement released by Nottinghamshire Police on Wednesday, September 30, Mr Lister's family said: "Andrew was a young man in his prime. He had a good job, a loving partner, a daughter he adored and everything to live for."
"He also loved animals and could think of nothing better than fussing over his Doberman, Mable, or taking her for walks in Sherwood Forest. Everyone he met, he treated with love, kindness and a cheeky smile that we will never see again. Our grief as a family is on a different level to anything we have ever felt."
"Everything we do and everywhere we go, we find ourselves saying, 'Andrew would love this' or 'we must take Andrew here'. Then we realise he is no longer here, and he will never do these things. But we remember him with love and affection every day. His zest for life was infectious and touched everyone he came into contact with."
Sentencing and previous convictions
Grant, of Melford Road, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death while disqualified and while driving without insurance, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He has previous convictions including robbery, drugs, possession of an offensive weapon, controlling and coercive behaviour, breaching a restraining order, dangerous driving and other driving matters.
Simon Eckersley, mitigating, said his client was also seriously injured in the crash and suffered a seizure at the wheel, but the judge rejected the claim about an epileptic seizure. Mr Eckersley said: "It can't be said for certain but he maintains that he did. There is no reason he would accelerate into a stationary line of traffic at 87mph."
"Nothing I can say, he can say or his family can say can ameliorate the harm he's caused and he has asked me to apologise publicly to all those affected by the devastation he's caused." As well as the jail term, the judge disqualified Grant from driving for life.
