Driver jailed for causing death of mother and daughter from Caerphilly by speeding during storm
Firas Zeineddine was convicted because data from his own Tesla car recorded him driving at more than 90mph on the M4 in Wiltshire during 2023's Storm Babet which brought strong winds and heavy rains to the UK.
The 46-year-old was jailed for 12 months at Swindon Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of causing the death by careless driving of Cheryl Woods, 61, and Sarha Smith, 40, Wiltshire Police said.
Zeineddine, from Keynsham, Bristol, was driving a Tesla Model Y in the outside lane of the motorway in October 2023 when he lost control because of the surface water.
The aquaplaning caused him to smash into a lorry which then hit the car of Ms Woods, 61, and Ms Smith, 40, who had stopped on the hard shoulder because of an earlier crash, police said.
The lorry just missed an officer from National Highways who had stopped to help them on the motorway near Chippenham.
The two women, from of Caerphilly in South Wales, died at the scene.
'The reality is that a lot of the evidence comes from the defendant's own car and the Tesla was recording from multiple cameras,' Judge Jason Taylor KC told a previous hearing.
After the sentencing, Detective Constable Sean Williams, from Wiltshire Police, said: 'This is an utterly tragic and needless incident which has seen two women lose their lives,'
'Zeineddine's speeding in the conditions was completely reckless and he admitted having impaired vision due to the amount of mist and spray that was coming off the road.
'Despite this, data from his Tesla showed his speed was in excess of 90mph.
'Once his vehicle started to aquaplane in the standing water, due to the speed he was driving, he lost complete control.
'I'm pleased he has pleaded guilty which has prevented the victims' family from having to relive the details through a trial.'
He added: 'Cheryl and Sarha's deaths sadly provide a clear illustration of why it is vital to drive to the conditions, no matter where you are.
'Any mistake or unforeseen incident, particularly at the speeds Zeineddine was driving, can have fatal consequences.'
At the time of their deaths, the women were described as devoted mothers and grandmothers in a tribute issued by their family.
It said: 'Cheryl Woods, cherished by those in her life, fulfilled the roles of a loving mother, doting grandmother, cherished sister, and a dear friend.
'Her selflessness was a defining trait, consistently prioritising her family's well-being over her own, and she took immense pride in her Welsh heritage while nurturing a deep love for nature.
'Sarha Smith, in the footsteps of her mother, unselfishly devoted herself to her family's needs ahead of her own.
'She was not only a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, but her absence leaves a void for those who relied on her radiant presence.
'Her legacy lives on through her six daughters, who will forever hold her memory close and strive to honour her with their efforts.'
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North Wales Live
5 hours ago
- North Wales Live
'Private Property' sign shatters tranquility of beautiful Eryri lake used by generations of locals
A newly arrived family seeking a slice of heaven in North Wales have found themselves embroiled a heated access row with locals. After buying an historic cottage, reputed birthplace of 6th century poet Taliesin, they discovered the pretty lakeside location was not quite so idyllic after all. While renovating the old stone cottage overlooking Llyn Geirionydd, a popular lake in Conwy, Simon and Michelle Rothwell soon realised their 42 acres were often swarming with visitors. After despairing over illegal camping, parking and "abuse", they erected a 'Private Property' sign by the lake, a third of which they now own. The sign inflamed passions among people from nearby Trefriw and Llanrwst for whom access is considered an historic privilege after generations of use. The sign was allegedly swiftly torn down and the property vandalised. While some people are sympathetic to the family's plight, others are not. Some professed 'shock' they would no longer be able to take their children to the area. Among scores of angry comments was one from a woman who said: 'Are you honestly going to stand there with a pitchfork shouting get off my land or sit in a boat shouting get out of my water?' A local woman insisted she would not be deterred. '50 years of swimming there, as did my father before me, walking up from the village,' she wrote. 'Not going to stop now.' She claimed the lake and its curtilage had been loved by visitors for centuries – 'well before anyone could claim it was theirs'. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now With Michelle, Simon, a former police officer from Luton, bought the property in October 2024. Later, the Times newspaper included it in a list of the 'weirdest homes sold in 2024', meaning the most distinctive. Overlooking it is the Taliesin Memorial, erected around 1850 to commemorate Taliesin Ben Beirdd (Chief of Bards), the first known poet in the Welsh language said to be a companion of King Arthur and Bran the Blessed. The couple's two-bedroom home oozed character but it was neglected: commuting from Warwick, renovations have been going on for eight months and it will be some time before they can finally move in. Online, a woman suggested the couple's quest for privacy was thankless in a tourism hotspot. 'Unfortunately unless you're planning on erecting 15ft steel fences or patrolling the shoreline 24/7 then maybe the best thing for your own mental health and happiness is to accept that it's an area that's going to have people in it,' she said. 'Otherwise you're just going to be miserable living here and life is too short and the scenery too beautiful.' Before buying the £675,000 property, they were aware the lake was a honeypot attraction – it's where Gwydyr Forest meets the lower slopes of the Carneddau mountains. Part of the site is managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), which operates a car park with toilets at the lake's southern end. It's a popular picnic spot. However it can get busy - watersports are popular and Geirionydd is the only lake in Eryri National Park where speedboats are permitted. Inevitably, locals gravitate to the lake's quieter, northern shores where they can escape the noise and bustle. The problems the Rothwells have experienced – littering, camping and illegal fires – are recurring issues all around the lake. A task force was even set up to tackle the concerns - ones that are familiar to anyone living near photogenic sites where swathes of visitors often inconvenience residents and create locals vs tourists tensions. The couple were unprepared for the scale of the problems, magnified by this year's good weather. Neither did they appreciate just how much local people have an affinity with the lake's atmospheric northern area – a place that once hosted the Gorsedd of Geirionyd, a 'more Welsh' version of the National Eisteddfod. Simon said: '95% of the people who come here are lovely. But we have others who say they have a right to be there, they can do what they like. 'Often the driveway is blocked by parked cars, preventing tradespeople from reaching the house. Sometimes we can't even access the house ourselves. And littering can be terrible. I've filled the car up many times with abandoned tents, discarded clothes and bottles of vodka. 'We have an agreement with a local farmer to graze his sheep – but they then get chased by dogs. Some people are so rude – a paddleboarder made our youngest son, aged six, cry when he was alone in the garden.' Complicating the situation is a public footpath that runs around the lake. Others cut through their property, to the Taliesin Memorial and linking Geirionydd with Llyn Crafant, a sister lake renowned for its scent of wild garlic. Although the footpaths are well away from the house, they bring people to the lakeside: here, the temptation is to dwell at what is undeniably a beautiful spot. 'We want to be reasonable, we really do,' said Simon. 'We understand people walk the area and want to stop to admire the lake. We have no problems with that. But if one person pitches up a tent, inevitably others will follow, and before long you have 20, 30, even 40 people camping on your land and having parties. 'It can also lead to awkward conversations. Recently we had people lighting a barbecue by the lake. When I spoke to them, they said they wouldn't be long, so I let it be. Six hours later, they were still there. 'When you approach some people and say it's private property, they say it's 'only a piece of paper' and tell me I have no right to ask them to leave. We've even had people in the back garden!' Having been driven to distraction by 'unpleasant incidents' and 'aggressive and intimidating' encounters this summer, Michelle took to Facebook explain how they were upsetting a family that was 'putting every penny we have into making our dream a reality'. Seeking to promote understanding, she shared photos of a gate and boundary wall by another Private Property sign that had been 'forcibly torn down'. A £200 Private Property sign erected by the lake was 'kicked down and stolen' within a day, she added. The police have been informed and the couple have been advised to install security cameras. It's a route they're reluctant to go down, but they may have little option. 'Perhaps we didn't appreciate just how long people have been coming up here,' said Simon. 'But it doesn't mean anyone can pitch up tents and light fires without permission. 'We want to be welcoming and we're anxious to talk to people about the issues. We absolutely want people to enjoy the area and we want to find solutions if we can. Of course it's reasonable that people can stop for a picnic near the footpath. However the feedback we've had so far suggests many people simply weren't aware the property was private.' Bizarrely, a public map of the lake published by NRW only shows two thirds of it – the map excludes the 14 acres of water now owned by the Rothwells. According to Simon, NRW told him this was at the request of a former owner worried it might attract people further up the lake. On its website, NRW does point out 'the north end of the lake is privately owned'. This brief reference may leave many lake users unaware of the limitations, especially given the lack of boundary markers at the lakeside or on the water. To get away from the crowds, plenty of people like to access the lake's northern end from its small shingle beach. To help provide clarity, some users have suggested marker buoys to delineate the lake's private area. Others say it will make little difference – people will ignore any signs anyway. 'People have used that little beach for years and years,' said one man online. 'I can guarantee you that me and my mates will still be using the little beach.' Others doubt any boundary markers could be enforced. Addressing the family, another man wrote: 'Unfortunately I don't think you have a hope in hell of stopping people – rightly or wrongly – using your end of the lake. 'You will only drive yourself mad and cause yourselves more distress if you try and make a stand, it will be like trying to hold back the incoming tide. 'Your only hope is to accept the inconvenience and enjoy the majority of the year when you will have Geirionydd to yourselves. It's a beautiful part of the world and you can't really blame anyone for wanting to enjoy a few hours in your paradise.' NRW said it has been in discussions with the Rothwells over their access problems. The environment body said it has no plans to install additional markers identifying the lake's private section. Roots of row in the staycation boom While local people claim to have enjoyed unhindered access for decades, the position changed during the pandemic. Before then, Michelle said the previous owners 'weren't around much'. But in summer 2021 a long-time visitor was asked to leave the area. Ruefully, the visitor wrote: 'For people who enjoy the area responsibly, who pick up litter and notify authorities of any issues, being asked to leave is a kick in the teeth.' A few weeks after this incident, the property's Macclesfield-based owner wrote to an outdoor education academic at Bangor University asking for help rescinding access permissions previously granted to outdoor centres, schools and colleges. At the time, she raged at the 'littering and wild defecation, wild fires and verbal abuse' the area was experiencing in the staycation boom. She wrote: 'We are now inundated with visitors to the point where we cannot enjoy the land that we own. Whilst we wish to encourage humanity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings we are very worried about the destruction of natural habitat and general trespassing.' Matters were said to have escalated. There were reported incidents according to a neighbour with run-ins between the last owners and with people using that end of the lake. He also said it made little difference. With visitor numbers still rising, he suggested the new owners 'will be fighting a losing battle'. Working with the community The destruction of property, and the 'disgusting' and 'appalling' intimidation experienced by the family, has been widely condemned by locals and other lake users. Yet few have been surprised by the anger caused by the raising of Geirionydd's drawbridge. The area, in the parish of Llanrhychwyn, is rooted in antiquity. Near the lake is grade I-listed St Rhychwyn's Church, often claimed as the oldest in Wales. Locally it's known as Llewelyn's Church, a reference to Llywelyn Fawr, Prince of Gwynedd, who had a hunting lodge in the area. It's an enchanting place but, online, one woman suggested the family picked the wrong place for their rural idyll. 'You bought a house in one of the most popular beauty spots in the area. And now you are wondering why people are not happy that you are trying to restrict access to an area that local people have used as amenity land for generations. 'I agree that vandalism is not appropriate in any situation. However, you are really not going about this in a very diplomatic way, with signs effectively saying 'get off my land'. 'No wonder people are upset. You will not win this battle, I doubt, without a lot of stress and expense.' Simon, now a businessman, said the family never intended to upset local people and are distraught by the consequences. In time, they hope to immerse themselves in the community whilst finding ways of curtailing the area's over-tourism. The Private Property sign was not meant to be provocative, he said. Instead it was merely a way of 'drawing a line' to show the family was no longer prepared to accept the disruption and abuse they were experiencing. Despite everything, Simon and his wife don't regret for a moment the decision they made to move up from the West Midlands. 'We love it here,' he said. 'It's a beautiful area and we've met some lovely people. It's not nice to hear things like we should 'go back to Warwick'. But, overall, the good far, far exceeds the bad.' NRW said it manages Llyn Geirionydd's access for swimmers and paddlers from the southern end only. A spokesperson said: 'The northern end of the lake is privately owned and we've been speaking with the property owner who's put up signs on their own property as a result of people accessing the land and parking across their gate. 'Our signs at the southern end of the lake show the areas visitors can use, including the area for water skiing by permit only, which is managed by Llyn Geirionydd Water Skiing Club. 'We don't currently have plans to change our signage or install a floating lake boundary to mark the private property at the northern end of the lake.'
Rhyl Journal
6 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
St Asaph: North Wales Victim Help Centre marks 10 years
The North Wales Victim Help Centre, is celebrating 10 years of service, having supported around 250,000 people affected by crime and traumatic incidents since opening in 2015. The centre, delivered by the independent charity Victim Support and funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales, provides free, confidential, and tailored support for anyone affected by crime, whether or not it has been reported to the police. Jessica Brookes, area manager for Victim Support Wales, said: "We are thrilled to be celebrating a decade of specialist, tailored support for victims across North Wales, helping them to cope, recover and rebuild their lives after crime. "Over the last ten years, we have worked closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner, and other local services, to ensure our support is constantly evolving and adapting to meet the needs of local people. "We look forward to continuing to deliver the best possible support for victims." The centre offers help to victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, fraud, modern slavery, and exploitation, as well as children and young people. Support is provided in both English and Welsh, with interpretation services available for other languages. Over the past decade, the centre has expanded its services to meet changing needs, including supporting families affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. It also introduced the UK's first dedicated caseworker for victims of modern slavery, and more recently, a specialist caseworker for children and young people. Andy Dunbobbin, PCC for North Wales, praised the centre's impact and adaptability. He said: "I am delighted to congratulate the Victim Help Centre in St Asaph on a decade of dedicated service to the people of North Wales. "It is a provision I am proud to fund on behalf of residents and it is one that previous Police and Crime Commissioners have strongly supported since it began in 2015. "One of my key priorities as Police and Crime Commissioner is supporting victims, communities and businesses, and wherever I go across North Wales I meet people who have benefited from the advice the centre offers." Anyone affected by crime can contact the North Wales Victim Help Centre through the Victim Support website or by calling 0300 303 0159.
South Wales Argus
21 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Concern over enforcement of Severn Bridge weight limit
The grainy image appears to show a French-registered lorry approaching the bridge from the Chepstow side, despite restrictions that have been in place since May 2025 to protect the bridge's ageing suspension cables. But the photo is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Since the weight limit was introduced, enforcement has been plagued by confusion, delays, and a lack of transparency. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, promised by National Highways, were not in place at the start of the weight restrictions in May and there's still no clear confirmation they are operational. Councillor Catrin Maby said enforcement is now handled through Avon and Somerset Police, but there's no public data on summonses, and no clarity on which democratic body oversees the bridge's monitoring group. Adding to the chaos, old signage displaying the previous 44-tonne limit remained in place after he restrictions, potentially misleading foreign drivers relying on outdated satellite navigation. Enforcement is split between two police forces, and local hauliers gossip has it that foreign drivers are using the bridge, seemingly without penalty. Monmouthshire County Council has compared the economic impact to the potential closure of Scunthorpe steelworks, warning that more than 2,500 jobs at Newhouse Farm industrial estate are at risk. Councillors have called for a 'who, what, when, where, why and how' approach to enforcement, demanding clear signage, functioning cameras, and accountability. Councillor Watts has said : 'Until then, the bridge remains a symbol of muddled management, where rules exist, but clarity does not.' The farce continued this week as Gwent Police confirmed that a 27-year-old man from Bristol was issued with a traffic offence report after being escorted off the M48 Severn Bridge on Wednesday, July 16—while driving a horse and carriage. National Highways has not been asked to comment on whether the horse and carriage exceeded the 7.5-tonne weight limit.
