Man jailed for crash that killed boy and two women

Leo Painter, aged six, died alongside Courtney Hemming and Claire Adkins as they were leaving his school

A man who killed two women and a six-year-old boy, after hitting them in a car while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, has been jailed for 18 years.

Leo Painter died alongside Courtney Hemming, 26, and Claire Adkins, 39, following the crash on the A44 Spetchley Road outside Worcester in February.

Joe-Lewis Tyler, 34, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

West Mercia Police said the length of Tyler's sentence was "unprecedented", reflecting the devastation he had caused.

However, the victims' families were visibly unhappy when Tyler was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Monday and later said they were "disgusted".

Tyler's sentence also accounted for his pleading guilty to one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and three counts of causing death whilst driving without insurance.

The 34-year-old, of no fixed address, had been driving the BMW 3 Series on 22 February at about 90mph in a 50mph area on a wet afternoon.

A judge said Tyler, who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, had been "racing himself"

The court heard he was well over the legal alcohol limit, as well as being under the influence of cocaine and cannabis, with a strong smell of cannabis emanating from his vehicle.

As he drove down the A44, he crashed into a white Ford Mondeo carrying the victims, who had just left Leo's school, Abigail's Place.

Ms Hemming and Ms Adkin died at the scene, while Leo died shortly after arriving at hospital.

The judge said Tyler had been "racing himself", adding: "It’s difficult to think of a worse piece of prolonged driving."

Ch Insp Andy Wortley from West Mercia Police called Tyler's actions "selfish and reckless", and he had shown no remorse or taken any responsibility.

Gemma Painter said she reached the hospital too late to say goodbye to her son

Dozens of people attended court for Tyler's sentencing, where family members held up photos of the victims.

In her victim impact statement, Leo's mother Gemma Painter said she would never get over losing her son, and she saw him every time she closed her eyes.

"Without Leo, I am nothing. The actions of one man have completely ruined my life," she said.

Courtney Hemming’s mother, Michelle, said her daughter was "the centre of my world, my best friend and carer", and that Ms Hemming's son had been left without a mother.

She added: "We will forever miss our beautiful cousin Claire and my daughter Courtney.

"Little Leo will always be looked after by those girls as they loved him. I just wish today’s outcome could bring them back."

Claire Adkins, a mother of three boys, had huge numbers turn out at her funeral, with her family calling her the rock who was central to all their lives.

They said: "No amount of sentence will ever be enough, because as a family we are heartbroken, and our lives have been destroyed.

"No amount of time will ever fix our broken hearts."