Somerset man jailed for longer
A drink-driver has had his sentence increased following an intervention by the Attorney General
A Somerset drink-driver has had his sentence increased following an intervention by the Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QCMP.
Matthew Shaw, 35, drove through a red light at an excess speed of 60mph and crashed into another vehicle being driven by Jennifer Sell, 20, who died at the scene. Shaw바카라 사이트™s passenger was also injured.
The accident took place at a 바카라 사이트˜T바카라 사이트™ junction between Hayes Park Road and Northmead Road (which has an upper speed limit of 30mph) in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, at around 22:30 on 31 July 2019. Shaw subsequently failed a roadside breath test and later refused a preliminary drugs test at the police station.
On 4 November 2020, Shaw took his partner바카라 사이트™s Mercedes vehicle, on which he was not insured, and was involved in another collision on the A371 between Evercreech and Shepton Mallet, Somerset. Shaw바카라 사이트™s car veered onto the opposite side of the road, facing oncoming traffic, and caused a collision with another vehicle, which suffered damage.
Prior to these offences, Shaw had 8 convictions for multiple driving offences, including for driving a vehicle with excess alcohol, dangerous driving, driving whilst uninsured, failure to cooperate with a preliminary breath test and failure to provide a fluid specimen.
Shaw pleaded guilty to the above offences and was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, failure to cooperate with a preliminary drugs test, aggravated vehicle taking and of driving a vehicle without insurance.
On 20 January 2021, Shaw was sentenced to 7 years and 5 months바카라 사이트™ imprisonment at Bristol Crown Court. Following the Court바카라 사이트™s decision, the Attorney General referred Shaw바카라 사이트™s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. On 20 April 2021, the Court ruled that the sentence was unduly lenient and increased it to 8 years and 9 months바카라 사이트™ imprisonment.
After the hearing at the Court of Appeal the Attorney General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP, said:
Shaw바카라 사이트™s dangerous and irresponsible driving led to the death of a young woman with her entire life before her. I referred his sentence because I felt it to be too low, and I am glad that the Court of Appeal chose to increase it today.