Gregory Newcombe’s mum’s heartwrenching words as careless killer driver jailed for 10 months
The family of a motorcyclist who tragically lost his life have shared their profound "suffering, pain, and heartbreak" as the driver responsible for his death was jailed for 10 months.
Gregory Newcombe was only 26 when his life was cut short near Newton le Willows and Bedale in North Yorkshire[1]. The devastating incident happened at 2:30 pm on July 10, 2022, when Gregory's Harley-Davidson was struck by a brown Ford Fiesta, being driven by Cameron Guy Ward, pulling out from Sinks Lane onto the A684.
On Friday, October 11, York Crown Court was told that witnesses saw Gregory hurled "high into the air" after being struck by the vehicle, hitting the roof of the car before landing on the ground. Despite prompt attention by paramedics, Gregory was pronounced dead at the scene.
Minutes after the incident, Ward phoned an insurance provider to set up immediate cover for himself, attempting to feign having valid insurance at the time of the incident. The driver also claimed that "bright sunlight" had affected his visibility, although forensic collision investigators later testified that "the sun was not a contributing factor". They also determined there were no "defects in the vehicle that could have caused or contributed".
A reconstruction showing how the two vehicles collided (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
'Deep sorrow'
In an emotional tribute, his mum expressed the depth of their loss, saying: "There are no words to describe the enormous void and loss that has been created. There have been many hours of tears and deep sorrow. Believe me when I say that heartache is truly a physical pain breaking you apart."
She reminisced about her son, sharing: "I miss Greg coming through the door at the end of the day, telling the tales of his adventures at work in the wagon. I miss his smile, his laughter, jokes, and his cocktails on a Saturday night. Greg was a lovely caring young man who had everything to live for."
With immense sadness, she added: "Unfortunately, on Sunday 10th of July 2022 he had everything stolen from him - his life, his future. Those are the greatest possessions anyone has, and they were stolen from him in the blink of an eye through carelessness", reports Yorkshire Live[2].
Gregory's mum says she now goes out of her way to avoid the area where her son's life was cut short, saying: "The A634 is a road I can no longer face driving on and now I have to take a longer alternative route to avoid driving over the place where Greg died and passing the scene.
"The police arrived and told me that Greg had had an accident. That was over two years ago but it still feels like yesterday. Those words 'he died at the scene' haunt me."
She further shared the unending grief her family faces: "Our family has already endured over two years of suffering, pain, and heartbreak. A life sentence that will only end for us when we die. There will be no grandchildren from Greg for me to dote on, and all I have now are memories of a lovely boy, a certificate from the crematorium, and a box of ash."
Gregory Peter Newcombe was killed in the crash (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
Brother, father and grandmother's tributes
Gregory's younger brother expressed how difficult it has been to come to terms with the aftermath of the crash, stating: "Finding out the actions of the driver following the accident have made it much harder to come to terms with knowing someone could so quickly think about their own life, and lie for their own gain, with such little regard for Greg's life. Greg would be so disappointed his life ended this way."
He added, "Greg was my older brother, best friend and go to person. My life has been very different since we lost Greg, and I really don't think I can put into words the hole it has left in my life and so many others around me."
He further shared: "You try to carry on your life as best you can, holding on to the good memories and making the most like Greg would want you to, but there are always reminders and triggers that make day-to-day life very difficult."
Gregory's father expressed the family's profound grief, saying: "I am so proud of everything he had achieved and the young man he had become in his all too short life... his loss is indescribable. I will never hold him again, never see him again, never hear his voice again and be able to spend precious moments with him, it's every parent's worst nightmare and that loss will stay with me forever."
He continued, "On the 10th of July 2022, our world fell apart and our lives changed forever. There are so many unanswered questions I ask myself and have to live with. Did he suffer? Did he hurt? Did he know? And the biggest question: Why? – when there was such good visibility at the junction.
"As the inscription on Greg's memorial stone reads, 'I had places to go and things to see, but life was stolen from me'."
Greg's Grandma shared her memories fondly: "My first grandson, my pride and joy, he was always happy, helpful, and kind. He was full of fun and mischief." She reminisced about their daily calls, "Every morning between 9.30am and 10am, he would ring me up with 'Now then Grandma, how are you today? ' and he would tell me all the wonderful things that he had seen that day - a glorious sunrise, deer in the fields, buzzards."
She concluded with a heart-wrenching sentiment, "Nothing can replace that empty space in my heart and mind I shall mourn him for the rest of my life."
Admission of guilt
Cameron Guy Ward who pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, driving without insurance, and perverting the course of justice (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
Ward pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, driving without insurance, and perverting the course of justice. He was handed a 10-month prison sentence and banned from driving for 23 months.
Detective Chief Inspector Jeremy Bartley, who led the investigation for North Yorkshire Police, said: "Our thoughts remain with Greg's loved ones as they continue to process their loss. Throughout this difficult investigation, they have shown remarkable composure and dignity, supported by a specially trained family liaison officer.
"The defendant failed to properly observe at a junction and pulled out into the path of a motorcycle, resulting in a tragic collision.
"Despite being uninsured, he attempted to cover up his negligence by purchasing insurance just minutes after the crash – a clear act of self-preservation while a young man lay dying on the road due to his actions. Though the defendant had no intention of causing harm, his reckless behaviour led to the devastating loss of a young life, robbing him of the future he could have shared with his family."
She added: "Every road death brings immeasurable heartache and harm to the families and communities left behind. We see too often the needless tragedies caused by unsafe driving, and we work tirelessly to reduce this preventable loss.mI hope the sentence serves as a stark reminder to all road users: Always look twice, especially for bikes. Road safety can save lives."
Gregory Newcombe’s Harley-Davidson and his crash helmet at the scene of the collision (Image: North Yorkshire Police)
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References
- ^ North Yorkshire (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ Yorkshire Live (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.gazettelive.co.uk)