Driver jailed over five-year-old son's death

A father was jailed today for 21 months after admitting causing the death of his own son by dangerous driving in a head-on smash in Mid Wales.

Alan Lloyd Paul Evans, 34, from Ford Jarvis, Wrexham, was also banned from driving for three years during today's hearing at Mold Crown Court and he was told by the judge that he would have to take an extended retest to get his licence back.

Evans had previously admitted causing the death of his five-year-old son Bailey Evans on May 14 last year.

Bailey was a front-seat passenger in the Citroen Saxo his father was driving when the crash occurred on the A483 at Welshpool.

Sentencing Evans today, Judge Niclas Parry said the incident was a 'thoroughly avoidable tragedy'.

He added: "This is an appalling and unnecessary waste of a young life.

"A tragedy caused by your thoughtless driving.

"Yourself and Bailey's mother have lost a beautiful five-year-old son and his three sisters a brother," he added.

"Witnesses described your driving as like a bat out of hell and therefore I have to be seen to do my public duty by giving you an immediate custodial sentence."

The court heard that Evans had taken his son out for the day to Park Hall Farm in Oswesty and was returning him to his mother when the crash happened.

Mr Andrew Green, prosecuting, said: "Three cars had been following a car towing a trailer when the first two cars managed to pass without incident.

"But then Evans overtook and ran out of road before spinning into the path of a Nissan.

"Police arrived at the scene and found the defendant sat at the roadside with his son lifeless in the passenger seat."

Mr Andrew Jebb, for Evans, said: "No punishment handed out by the court could match the punishment he has put himself through in the last 11 months.

"He will now lose his job and is worried about losing his marriage."

By Andrew Morris