Brecon Beacons: Drug-driver jailed after fatal A470 crash

Witnesses said Craig Thomas claimed that Lee Sullivan had been driving. They also said he was evasive when talking and appeared to be under the influence of some substance.

A breathalyser found no traces of alcohol but a drugs wipe detected the use of cocaine.

Thomas had already been banned from driving and had what Judge Jenkins described as an “appalling” list of previous convictions including several driving convictions.

The judge was also told that following his crash he was arrested in October 2023 and January 2024 for driving under the influence of cocaine.

Lee Sullivan’s brother Christopher Baber gave a victim impact statement to the court which said that he and his brother had “always looked after each other” even though they had taken “different paths”.

When he heard the news, he told the court: “I knew I was alone. No other family members had wanted to know Lee when he was alive and no-one would want to know about his death.”

Thomas admitted causing death by driving without due case and consideration while unfit through drugs at an earlier hearing.

Judge Jenkins told Thomas that the fact he tried to repeatedly blame the deceased was an aggravating factor and that his actions had a “devastating effect” on Mr Sullivan’s brother.

Thomas was sentenced to 45 months in prison with a driving ban of six years and 10 months. He must take an extended driving test before he can drive again.