A man who was driving while he was double the legal alcohol limit has been jailed after he admitted to causing the death of an 18-year-old motorcyclist in a collision.
Ashley Quinton, aged 38, previously pleaded guilty to causing the death of Tyler Durn by driving without due care and attention while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.
On Friday 13 March at Gloucester Crown Court, Quinton was sentenced to four years and two months in prison, and was told he would serve 20 months.
On his release from prison, Quinton will be disqualified from driving for five years, and will have to take an extended driving test.
Gloucester Crown Court heard how Quinton had drank nine pints at a pub in the lead up to the collision, and when he was breathalysed by police at the scene he had 76 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
The legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath.
On 19 May 2023 Quinton had been driving a Vauxhall Vivaro van when he collided with Tyler, who had been riding a motorcycle, on Ermin Street in Brockworth.
Emergency services attended and Tyler, who lived nearby in Brockworth, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Quinton, from Gloucestershire, was arrested at the location and, following an investigation by Gloucestershire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Team, he was charged with the offence.
During the hearing, Tyler’s mum Ellie Durn read a statement to the court. She said: “The way in which Ty was taken from us will traumatise us as a family forever.
“Ty was the happiest, most loving, energetic person whom had the brightest smile. I feel lucky to be his mummy and have the memories that I have of his short 18-year life, and it breaks my heart that we don’t get to make more memories with him, doing all the things we loved, with whom he loved.
“The future we planned, the laughter we shared and the simple comfort of Ty’s presence has all been taken, leaving an unbearable silence in our lives.”
Matt Quinn, Tyler’s dad, read a statement to the court. He said: “Tyler has been ripped from not only our lives, but that of his brothers and sister, who have had countless sleepless nights trying to understand and come to terms with the fact that they will never see their brother again.
“They will never get to hear his voice again, play with him or hug him. Tyler was their idol, their big, awesome, happy-go-lucky brother.
“For so many reasons this could have been avoided. We could have got to create more memories with Tyler, and we will never get that chance again.
“This has not only ripped apart ours and Ellie’s family, but it has also ripped apart your life Ashley.”
Becca, who has a daughter with Tyler, said: “On the evening of Friday 19 May my heart broke for both myself and my daughter Clementine. She was just one years old at the time, and I knew I needed to be strong, but I knew from that moment onwards our lives would be changed forever.
“Clementine’s life will be effected forever and she will never get to grow up with her daddy by her side to make more memories, this has been taken from her and it causes my heart to forever ache.”
It was heard in court how at the time of the collision Tyler had been travelling between 66mph and 76mph on a road which had a legal limit of 30mph.
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Williams from Gloucestershire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Team said: “From our investigation and after reviewing hours of CCTV from a nearby pub, we were able to prove that Quinton had drank nine pints of beer prior to getting into the driver’s seat.
“These actions have resulted in the death of an 18-year-old man, who was a young father, and this has had a huge impact on Tyler’s family and friends. No sentence will bring him back or ease their pain.
“We encourage people not to drive a vehicle if you have consumed any amount of alcohol, as you risk the consequences of injuring or killing someone else or yourself in the process.”
