Ex-Barnsley footballer Steven Bennett jailed over fatal crash

Angela and Richard Wong died aged 56 and 62 respectively after their car was hit from behind by a lorry on the M56 near the Lymm Interchange.

Mrs Wong died at the scene while Mr Wong, who was in the front passenger seat, died three days later at the Walton Centre in Liverpool

Lorry driver Steven Bennett, a former Barnsley FC striker, was locked up for five years at Chester Crown Court today, Thursday, after admitting two counts of causing death by dangerous driving over the incident in September 2019.

Prosecuting, Mr Williams told the court how on September 19, 2019, the traffic was slow on the M56 causing vehicles to come to a halt.

Mr and Mrs Wong had stopped when Bennett, 29, was approaching from behind at around 50pmh despite slowing traffic.

Footage from a dashcam showed how he failed to break until the very last second – Bennett claimed he had been ‘momentarily’ distracted by a bird flying past.

Mr Williams explained how it was later discovered that Bennett’s phone had been propped up behind the steering wheel as it was being used as a satnav.

Evidenced showed that just seconds before the collision, his phone had been plugged and unplugged and the screen orientation had changed twice in this time.

Mr Williams said: “He failed to keep any look out at all at a busy junction travelling at 50mph without paying any attention while playing on his phone.”

Multiple vehicles were also involved in the collision and other minor injuries were caused.

The court heard how Bennett has a previous conviction from June 2018 for using his mobile phone while driving and has previously served a ‘lengthy’ custodial sentence for robbery and affray.

In a personal victim statement read to the court, the couple’s son, Robert Wong, spoke about the ‘deep pain’ of losing both of his parents and the ‘devastating impact’ it has had on himself and his family’s life.

The couple’s daughter, Charlotte, also read a personal victim statement to the court where she claimed her parents were not only her ‘guardians’ but her ‘best friends’.

She said she ‘simply can’t get over the fact they are gone’.

Defending, Richard Barradell said that what had happened was ‘absolutely unintentional’ but acknowledged this makes ‘absolutely no difference to the family of the deceased’.

He claimed that Bennett had been trying to sort his satnav on his phone to work due to a ‘faulty connection’ which ‘has to be contrasted’ to someone texting their friends.

Mr Barradell also said Bennett has shown ‘genuine remorse’, is ‘truly sorry’ and is a ‘hard working man’ who intends to serve his sentence as a ‘model prisoner’.

Concluding, judge Berkson, said it was ‘harrowing’ to see the dashcam footage of the accident and referred to the pain that the couple’s family and friends have suffered as a result of the offence.

He added: “You are certainly not a person of good character.”

Judge Berkson explained how the aggravating factors are that more than one person was killed, other people were inadvertently impacted and Bennett’s previous conviction for the use of a mobile phone.

Bennett was sentenced to five years in prison and was also banned from driving for four years and ordered to undertake an extended retest.
Following the sentencing Police Sergeant Andrew Dennison, of Cheshire Police’s Serious and Complex Collision Investigation Unit said: “Richard and Angela were a devoted couple who had been married for over 37 years. 
 
“They were loving parents and grandparents, and their deaths sent shockwaves throughout their local community. My thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time. 
 
“While no sentence will ever bring Richard and Angela back, I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide them with some closure." 
 
“I also hope that this case will act as a warning to others. Driving is a complex task, drivers should always give full attention to what they are doing as situations can change rapidly. 
 
“This collision could have been easily been avoided, Bennett had a clear view of the traffic ahead of him at least 20 seconds before he hit the stationary traffic. But sadly he was grossly inattentive on the approach to this clear hazard.
 
“Once he took his eyes off the road his vehicle became a lethal weapon, and by the time he realised what was happening it was too late. This need to use his phone whilst driving has cost Steven Bennett his liberty and Angela and Richard their life.”