A former kids’s TV presenter was as we speak jailed for 9 years after he admitted killing two individuals in an horrific eight automotive smash.
Paul Ballard, 39, was excessive on cocaine and hashish when he ploughed into 64-year-old Eileen Haskell’s automotive in his VW Golf on Squirrels Heath Street in Romford on 20 February final yr.
Ballard, who’s a convicted rapist, was driving between ’88mph and 104mph’ in a 30mph zone earlier than he hit the again of Ms Haskell’s Ford Kuga.
The second sufferer, faculty instructor Richard Trezise, 48, was ready at a bus cease with members of his household when he was struck by a car and killed within the pile-up.
Eight vehicles had been concerned within the collision and at the very least seven individuals had been handled in hospital.
Former baby actor and TV presenter Ballard had starred on GMTV’s programme Diggit from 1998 to 2002 with Fearne Cotton, Craig Doyle, and Reggie Yates.
Paul Ballard, again row second from proper, is pictured subsequent to Reggie Yates (centre) and Fearne Cotton (backside proper) earlier than the trio starred on GMTV’s kids’s programme Diggit from 1998 to 2002
Ms Haskell was pronounced useless on the scene and following a autopsy examination the reason for dying discovered to be a number of accidents.
Cocaine addict Ballard was driving along with his 12-year-old son within the entrance passenger seat and claimed he suffered a seizure earlier than the crash, the Previous Bailey heard.
Ballard, of Woodland Method, Theydon Bois, Essex, admitted two counts of inflicting dying by harmful driving.
He denied two counts of inflicting dying by driving while uninsured, which won’t be pursued.
Ballard was additionally just lately convicted of raping a girl in a resort following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court docket and is awaiting sentence for that offence.
Throughout the intercourse assault the 39-year-old informed the sufferer: ‘Your life is ending… You are dying tonight.’
The previous baby actor offered kids’s programme Diggit on GMTV from 1998 to 2002 with Fearne Cotton, Craig Doyle, and Reggie Yates.
Edward Franklin, prosecuting, informed the courtroom: ‘The defendant approached two traces of stationary autos at a pink mild.
‘460 metres or so from the junction the velocity seems to be much like that of different autos, however the automotive then accelerated reaching round 75mph at 200 metres from the junction earlier than hitting a most velocity of between 88-104mph.
‘The velocity restrict on the highway was 30mph.
‘It was about 1.15pm when the automotive crashed into the rear of a Ford Kuga pushed by Ms Haskell.
‘The Kuga was lifted up and thrown right into a automotive, a silver Ford Fiesta, and that car collided with a transit van earlier than turning onto its aspect.
‘The Kuga went right into a bus shelter, hanging Mr Trezise within the chest,’ mentioned Mr Franklin.
Pictured: The horrifying aftermath of the eight automotive pile-up in Romford, Essex final February that claimed the lives of Eileen Haskell, 64, and Richard Trezise, 48
‘Richard Trezise was 48 years of age on the time of his dying, and he had arrived on the bus cease shortly earlier than the collision along with his spouse, Sharon, and son, Robert.
‘Sharon and Robert witnessed him fall to the ground after he’d been hit.’
Mr Trezise was pronounced useless at 2pm and a autopsy examination concluded that the reason for dying was a number of extreme accidents to the chest.
Half an hour later, at 2.30pm, Ms Haskell was pronounced useless on the scene and following a autopsy examination the reason for dying discovered to be a number of accidents, notably to the mind stem.
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The opposite drivers concerned within the smash escaped with solely minor accidents.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing Ballard ‘becoming’, describing him as ‘shaking and never responsive’.
On 24 September final yr Ballard admitted to police that he was hooked on cocaine and had taken some that day.
Mr Franklin mentioned: ‘He mentioned to start with that he handed out throughout a seizure whereas driving and didn’t keep in mind something of the accident.
‘He mentioned that he had common seizures that on a couple of events had triggered him to hit his head.
‘He informed the officer that he did not expertise any warning previous to the seizures however mentioned they got here on randomly.
‘He mentioned he’d been abusing cocaine on most days over the previous few years.’
In 2017, Ballard obtained residential therapy for cocaine dependency.
Blood samples revealed that Ballard’s blood contained 3.5mg of THC, the principal psychoactive constituent of hashish, and 32mg of cocaine, over thrice the authorized restrict.
He appeared in courtroom as we speak sporting a darkish gray go well with and glasses, and spoke solely to substantiate his identification.
Eileen Haskell, 64, (above) was driving when she was killed within the collision final February
In her sufferer assertion, Mr Trezise’s spouse Sharon Trezise mentioned: ‘He wasn’t simply my husband, he was my finest pal, my rock.
‘He would make me snicker, he was at all times anxious I labored too laborious.
‘We had been so glad and nonetheless very a lot in love with each other.
‘Dropping him the best way I did is one thing I’ll by no means get well from.’
Mrs Haskell’s daughter Sienna Haskell mentioned her father had just lately been recognized with pores and skin most cancers and was as a result of endure invasive surgical procedure the day after her mom’s dying.
She mentioned: ‘My mum was ripped from us a yr in the past and earlier than I may even course of my grief I needed to watch my father die too.’
‘The worst half is understanding that each one of this might have been prevented.’
Ms Haskell’s eldest daughter Holly Haskell attended the listening to through video-link from Australia. She has been unable to depart the nation throughout the pandemic so has not been in a position to see her household since her mom’s dying.
She wept as her sister’s sufferer assertion was learn to the courtroom.
Ballard’s father and different kinfolk had been within the public gallery for the listening to together with different members of the victims’ household.
The Widespread Serjeant of London, Choose Richard Marks, QC, handed sentence this afternoon.
The decide mentioned Mr Trezise was a ‘a lot beloved father and husband, in addition to a vastly revered instructor.
‘His spouse and son witnessed these occasions, they noticed him fall to the ground after he’d been hit.
‘Each Mr Trezise and Mrs Haskell had been pronounced useless on the scene.
‘Miraculously your son solely had minor accidents.
‘The truth that different people weren’t killed, or weren’t severely injured, is solely fortuitous.
‘A toxicological examination of your blood, taken at about 8pm on the day of the incident, confirmed that you just had THC and cocaine in your blood to a major diploma, though it’s proper to say that there isn’t a proof that this triggered the match neither is there any proof that you just had been in any materials approach affected by these medication.
‘The sufferer affect statements had been profoundly transferring and heartbreaking within the excessive.
‘It goes with out saying that no sentence I’m imposing on you’ll appear ample to any of them or be able to compensating both household for his or her completely devastating loss.’
‘You drove together with your 12 yr previous son subsequent to you, thereby placing him considerably in danger.’
Ballard was jailed for 9 years and he shall be disqualified for seven years as soon as he’s launched from jail.
He should additionally take an prolonged driving check earlier than he can take the wheel.
The decide additionally prolonged his condolences to members of the family of the victims.
