Kids’ TV presenter Paul Ballard jailed after killing two people while driving on cocaine

Paul Ballard, a former kids’s tv presenter, has been jailed for 9 years after inflicting the loss of life of two individuals when he ploughed right into a automotive at 104mph whereas excessive on cocaine

A former kids’s TV presenter has been jailed for 9 years after killing two individuals by driving whereas excessive on cocaine.

Paul Ballard, 39, who was one of many hosts of 90s children’ present Diggit alongside Fearne Cotton, had been utilizing cocaine and hashish when he drove right into a VW Golf owned by 64-year-old Eileen Haskell in Romford final yr, inflicting an eight-car pile-up.

He admitted to inflicting the deaths of Ms Haskell and schoolteacher Richard Trezise, 48, by harmful driving at a listening to in July this yr.

And right this moment, the Previous Bailey heard that Ballard had been driving inside the 30mph restrict till he suffered a seizure and accelerating to as much as 104mph within the seconds earlier than the crash.

The ex-TV star had taken a “important quantity” of cocaine and was driving along with his son, who was 12 on the time, within the passenger seat of his VW Golf.

The courtroom heard that there was “no proof” to recommend that the Class A drug had prompted the crash or the seizure, however Ballard had not notified his GP or the DVLA about his matches.

The victims have been pronounced lifeless following the collision on Squirrels Heath Highway, Romford, Essex, at round 2pm on February 20 2020.

Ms Haskell was in her automotive, stationary at visitors lights, when the car was hit at pace from behind, whereas Mr Tresize was ready at a bus cease when he was struck by a automotive.

London Fireplace Brigade needed to lower quite a lot of individuals free from their vehicles and 6 sufferers have been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening accidents.

Ballard’s medical information confirmed he had had three seizures previous to the collision – two in 2016 and one in 2019 – and had admitted being hooked on cocaine.

Prosecutor Edward Franklin stated Ballard “flagrantly ignored the chance” of driving when he had had seizures with out warning earlier than, with one earlier incident leading to him falling down a flight of stairs and waking in a pool of his personal blood.

Mr Franklin summarised sufferer influence statements from bereaved family.

Sharon Trezise witnessed her husband Richard’s loss of life within the collision together with their son, Robert.

Her assertion stated he had labored as a schoolteacher for greater than 20 years, most not too long ago at a major faculty in Thurrock the place pupils referred to as him “Mr T”.

Following his loss of life, Ms Trezise resigned from her personal job instructing weak kids as an assistant headteacher, which she beloved, after struggling to manage with out him.

“Richard was not simply my husband, however my greatest pal, my rock… shedding him the best way I did is one thing I’ll by no means get better from,” she stated.

“When she closed her eyes all she might see was what occurred, reasonably than her husband’s smiling face,” Mr Franklin added.

In an announcement learn to the courtroom, her son stated: “This has impacted me rather a lot… realising that my dad has truly gone and it is not some nightmare I had. I could not cease picturing the accident in my head.

“All we’ve received now’s reminiscences of him and images.”

Sienna Haskell, who misplaced her father Edward to most cancers “barely a yr” after her mom Eileen’s loss of life within the crash, stated in an announcement: “My mum was ripped from us a yr in the past, and earlier than I might even begin to course of my grief I needed to watch my father die too.

“What I’d not give to see my mom once more and have her hug me and inform me every thing goes to be OK.

“The worst half is understanding that this might all have been prevented.”

Addressing Ballard, she added: “The ache you will have prompted goes past phrases. Your actions have ripped my life aside.”

Eileen’s different daughter, Holly, described her as “inspirational”, “caring” and “humorous” in her assertion.

“My mum was my closest pal and actually I am misplaced with out her,” she stated.

Ballard, from Theydon Bois, in Essex, denied two additional prices of inflicting loss of life by driving whereas uninsured.

Decide Richard Marks QC stated the accident Ballard prompted might have been a lot worse.

“The truth that different people weren’t killed or critically injured is solely fortuitous,” he stated.

Talking in regards to the victims’ bereaved family, Decide Marks stated: “Every of them is totally devastated by the loss that they’ve sustained.

“It goes with out saying that no sentence that I impose upon you’ll appear enough to any of them or will appear able to compensating them for his or her completely devastating loss.”

Decide Marks stated Ballard’s jail sentence will likely be adopted by an 11-and-a-half yr disqualification from driving.

Ballard, identified by the nickname Des, was additionally an actor who appeared in Backside, and a co-presenter of The Disney Membership.