Latest news with #DarrenSilvester
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Drug driver jailed over Bishop's Waltham crash death
A drug driver has been jailed for causing the death of a Walton, 33, from Clanfield, Hampshire, was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash in Winchester Road, Bishop's Waltham, in December Silvester, 45, of Cobbett Close in Southampton, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while under the influence of Crown Court heard he was likely to serve half of his 32-month sentence in custody and would be banned from driving for five years after his release. Police were called at 07:23 BST on 19 December 2023 to a collision at the junction with The Avenue involving a Lexmoto Diablo motorbike and a Ford Sgt Jonathan Dove said: "Silvester's selfish actions that day have devastated a family by causing the death of a well-loved man who will miss Damien dearly."In a previous statement, Mr Walton's mother and brothers said he was a man of "integrity, courage and resilience who experienced untold hardship" but "refused to be beaten by the harshness of the world".His son added: "To my daddy, my biggest hero, I'll look out for you on the moon. I love you with all my heart. Miss you so much." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Pick-up truck driver still high on cocaine from the night before who ploughed into and killed a moped rider is jailed for 32 months
A pick-up driver has been jailed for 32 months after he ploughed into and killed a moped rider while he was still high on cocaine from the night before. Darren Silvester, 45, was still 10 times over the limit for cocaine when he pulled out in front of father-to-be Damien Walton, 33, on a quiet residential road in Southampton just before Christmas 2023. Walton had been riding his Lexmoto Diablo moped to work when Silvester, high on drugs from the previous night, smashed into him while exiting a petrol station in his Ford Ranger pick-up truck. A court heard Silvester had not used the class A drug for 12 hours but prosecutors said he 'took a risk' by getting behind the wheel. Tragically, Walton died at the scene on December 19, from catastrophic inquires. But the heartbreak didn't end there. Just days after his death, Walton's partner Machila Marshall discovered she was pregnant with his child. But in a cruel twist of fate, she later suffered a miscarriage at 18 weeks due to the grief and stress. On Saturday, Silvester was jailed for 32 months at Southampton Crown Court and banned from driving for five years after admitting causing death by driving without due care and attention while over the specified limit for benzoylecgonine. The court heard that tests showed Silvester had 480 microgrammes of benzoylecgonine, a metabolised form of cocaine, in his blood - almost ten times the legal limit of 50 microgrammes. It was also revealed that Silvester, from Bishop's Waltham, Hants, had a previous drink-driving conviction from 2010. In powerful victim impact statements read to the court, Walton's devastated family described how their world had been torn apart following the tragedy. Marshall, Walton's partner of two years, told the court: 'Losing him is the hardest thing I have had to come to terms with. It has left an unimaginable hole in my heart. 'I was ready to live the rest of my life with him, something that will never happen.' She told the court how, after he died, she found out she was pregnant with his child and felt comfort that there was still 'some last bit of Damien'. A statement from Walton's heartbroken mother, Nicola Marshman, was also read to the court. She said: 'He was my little rascal, always up to mischief, but everyone loved him.' She described how he had recently moved in with Marshall and used his recently bought moped to go to work around Southampton, saying it was the 'first time in a long time he seemed so happy. He just seemed to be in a really good place in life. 'My life has come to a halt. I am not able to cry and more because I start to have panic attacks with it.' Marshman also requested to be allowed to speak to Silvester following the sentencing. Walton's brother, Mark Walton, said the pair had a special bond. He said: 'When I heard the news with mum, I collapsed to the floor and I cried for two hours. 'I know Damien always looked up to me, though he would say it was the other way around. We share a bond I have never had with anybody else. He was always a constant for me. 'I feel I have lost a part of myself. Seeing a parent bury their child is something I never want to see again.' Mitigating, Andrew Houston, told the court that Silvester had not used cocaine for at least 12 hours before the incident. He added: 'There is utter remorse in the heart of Mr Silvester. Genuine remorse. He is devastated by what's happened.' Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Parker KC told Silvester: 'You took on a risk you shouldn't have taken. 'It is arguable you might not have taken that risk but for the reason you had cocaine in your system. 'I know that you are yourself a parent and care for one of your daughters. You are a family man and a significant part of a community. There are many who speak well of you. 'This is not something that occurred because of any malice on your part, this was a tragic incident with dreadful consequences.' Police Sergeant Jonathan Dove added: 'There is never any excuse for getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated by drink or drugs. 'Silvester's selfish actions that day have devastated a family by causing the death of a well-loved man who will miss Damien dearly. 'We are committed to bringing anyone who drives under the influence of drugs to the courts and will keep pursuing cases against these people and bringing the families of their victims some justice.'
