Driver who killed dad and toddler while high on cannabis is jailed for 12 years

A drug driver who killed a two-year-old and his dad while high behind the wheel, and driving on the wrong side of the road has been jailed.

John Woodcock, aged 44, and his two-year-old son Lewis, were killed while driving home from visiting their family in January last year.

John and Lewis were travelling along Chesterfield Road North, Pleasley, just after 6pm when an Audi driven by James Gibson, 31, hit their vehicle side-on.

Their car flipped and landed wedged between another car and a wall.

Gibson, aged 31, had been driving on the opposite side of the road, speeding, and he had also got behind the wheel after taking drugs.

He was also found to have run through red lights and undertaken other vehicles.

There was nothing Dan could have done to avoid the collision.

Gibson appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today (Monday 24 July) after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was jailed for 12 years and disqualified from driving for 18 years.

The mother and wife of John and Lewis, Caroline Westbrook, paid tribute to her two boys after the sentencing today.

She said: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to finally say thank you to everyone who has been there for me over this past year.

‘I would also like to say special thanks to the people who tried to help Louie and Dan on the night of this tragic accident, the innocent bystander, police, ambulance crew, doctors, and nurses at both Kingsmill Hospital and Queens Medical Centre.

‘I know we didn’t get the outcome we had hoped for, but I know all these people tried their very best to help my boys.

‘The two amazing ambulance staff who were there for me whilst we waited, I will never forget you and everything you did for me.

‘Now we have finally had the sentencing and this part is over, finally my boys can rest at peace and I and the family can try to build some sort of life where we try to come to terms with this horrific loss.’