Drug-driver jailed after fatal A470 crash

Lee Sullivan died after a Ford Focus overturned between the Storey Arms and Brecon

A drug user who crashed a car, killing one of his passengers, has been sentenced to 45 months in prison.

Craig Thomas, 52, from Llanfaes in Brecon, Powys, was driving without a licence on the A470 near Storey Arms when he lost control of the car whilst under the influence of cocaine.

Lee Sullivan, 48, was thrown from the car and was found face down in a stream. He died at the scene.

Thomas initially tried to claim that Mr Sullivan had been driving the car.

Judge Jeremy Jenkins at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court told Thomas he had repeatedly lied until he admitted his guilt at an earlier hearing.

The court heard that Thomas had been driving the car with two passengers towards Brecon when he lost control on a bend at around 05:00 GMT on 23 March 2023.

No other vehicle was involved and the court heard that the car rolled over before coming to a halt on a grass verge.

Another car stopped and called the emergency services.

One passenger tried to kick out the window to free himself and Craig Thomas asked for something to cut himself free from the drivers seat. Lee Sullivan was no longer in the car.

A search soon found him face down in a stream 18 inches deep. He was unresponsive and a post mortem examination later found he had died as a result of blunt injury to his forehead and chest.

Witnesses said Craig Thomas claimed that Lee Sullivan had been driving. They also said he was evasive when talking and appeared to be under the influence of some substance.

A breathalyser found no traces of alcohol but a drugs wipe detected the use of cocaine.

Thomas had already been banned from driving and had what Judge Jenkins described as an "appalling" list of previous convictions including several driving convictions.

The judge was also told that following his crash he was arrested in October 2023 and January 2024 for driving under the influence of cocaine.

Lee Sullivan's brother Christopher Baber gave a victim impact statement to the court which said that he and his brother had "always looked after each other" even though they had taken "different paths".

When he heard the news, he told the court: "I knew I was alone. No other family members had wanted to know Lee when he was alive and no-one would want to know about his death."

Thomas admitted causing death by driving without due case and consideration while unfit through drugs at an earlier hearing.

Judge Jenkins told Thomas that the fact he tried to repeatedly blame the deceased was an aggravating factor and that his actions had a "devastating effect" on Mr Sullivan's brother.

Thomas was sentenced to 45 months in prison with a driving ban of six years and 10 months. He must take an extended driving test before he can drive again.