- Ross and Clare Simons were killed when their tandem bike was hit by a car
- Banned driver Nicholas Lovell ploughed into them in a speeding Citroen
- Lovell- who has 69 previous convictions- was jailed for ten-and-a-half years
- Simons' family released crash picture in campaign for tougher sentences
This
shocking picture reveals the mangled wreck of a tandem bike which
belonged to the 'perfect couple' who were killed in a tragic crash with a
banned driver.
Drug addict Nicholas Lovell was speeding in his Citroen Picasso when he ploughed into Ross, 34, and Clare Simons, 30.
The couple, who had been riding the bike on the way to visit friends in Hanham, Bristol, were pronounced dead at the scene.
This shocking picture reveals the
mangled wreck of a tandem bike which belonged to 'perfect couple' Ross,
34, and Clare Simons, 30, who were tragically killed by a banned driver
Mr and Mrs Simons were killed almost instantly when drug addict Nicholas Lovell's speeding Citroen Picasso ploughed into them
Lovell - who has 69 previous convictions - was later jailed for just ten-and-a-half years for causing their deaths.
Now
relatives of the Simons have released the dramatic picture of the
aftermath of the crash as part of their campaign for tougher sentences
for banned drivers.
It shows how the car snapped the bike clean in half, with the front half getting lodged in the grille.
Heroin
addict Lovell, 38, had crashed into the couple as he tried to outrun
police - with a 16 month old baby and 12-year-old in his vehicle.
A
court hearing in May 2013 heard that he then left them dying by the
side of the road and while awaiting sentencing bragged to other inmates
that he would get away 'with four years'.
The
couple's tandem bike, which they had been riding at the time of the
crash, was snapped clean in half by the force of the crash
Jailing
Lovell at Bristol Crown Court in May 2013, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said:
'This is the worst example one could imagine of this sort of offence.
'You have a serious drug problem but your deep selfishness and disregard for others is breathtaking.'
His
partner Louise Cox, 35, was jailed for twelve months for trying to
cover up the fact he was illegally driving her Citroen Picasso.
Lovell - who has 69 previous convictions - was later jailed for just ten-and-a-half years for causing their deaths
Lovell
pleaded guilty to two counts of death by dangerous driving and was
given the maximum possible sentence under current guidelines.
But
Ross and Clare's family reckon he will be released after five years -
meaning he will serve just two-and-a-half years for each life he took.
On
Thursday, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling visited the site with local
Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore and the family to discuss further changes
and lay flowers.
One
potential change includes making sure sentences for multiple deaths are
served one after the other, instead of at the same time.
Mr Grayling said: 'I don't like the idea of people like this coming out half way through the sentence.
'It
is shocking to walk here in a normal suburban street and see what can
happen. I can only imagine the trauma and turmoil the family must have
been through.'
Kelly
Woodruff, 33, Ross's sister, said the family would continue to fight
for tougher laws in the hope of preventing future deaths.
She thanked Mr Skidmore, who has supported the Justice for Ross and Clare campaign from the start.
Mr
Skidmore said: 'We have fought the campaign to get laws changed, which
could already prevent future deaths but we want to go further.
'We want to keep this at the top of the agenda for whoever is in government to increase maximum sentences further.'
The crash happened in Hanham, Bristol, near the couple's home in January 2013.
In the run up to the collision a police officer in a patrol car recognised Lovell behind the wheel and knew he was banned.
The scene in Bristol where tandem
cyclists Ross and Clare Simons died after they were hit by Lovell - who
has 69 previous convictions
Lovell failed to stop when the officer switched on his blue light, disappearing from view.
Witnesses
had described Lovell driving as 'exceptionally erratic, fast and
dangerous'- with the speedo hitting 60mph- before they heard a 'loud,
horrendous bang.'
The court heard that Lovell was seen getting out of the steaming wreckage, followed by Cox who was cradling her baby.
But
the force of the impact instantly killed Ross and Clare, from Staple
Hill, Bristol and left their new tandem bike in three pieces.
Lovell
fled the scene and left lying Cox to tell police a mystery man in a red
sweater had been driving, leading detectives on a wild goose chase
before Lovell handed himself in the next day when traces of drugs were
found in his body.
Despite finally pleading guilty, Lovell has never apologised for causing the couple's death.
He also admitted driving while disqualified.
Fifteen years ago Lovell warned he would either kill or be killed through his reckless driving.
Piles of tributes were left to the
popular couple and now their family have been campaigning for tougher
sentences for banned drivers
Kelly Woodruff, 33, Ross's sister,
said the family would continue to fight for tougher laws in the hope of
preventing future deaths
He
already had 13 convictions for driving whilst disqualified since 1991
and a further four for dangerous driving since 1995 before he killed
Ross and Clare.
In
one incident he tried to escape police by driving through a subway. On
another he sped along a pavement forcing people to leap out of his way.
His
warning about killing came in 1998 after a 70mph head-on crash with
another car in Bristol when he was high on drugs. Lovell only stopped
then when his clapped-out Rover lost a wheel. In addition, Lovell has
been repeatedly jailed for violent crimes to fuel his lifelong heroin
habit.
In
2003 he was jailed for five years for an armed robbery at a shop, while
in 2006 - within weeks of being released - he committed an aggravated
burglary and got another 12 months in prison.
In
2009 he was given yet another ban for dangerous driving - but each time
he has simply ignored the courts and carried on as before.
In
sharp contrast, Ross and Clare were described as ‘a perfect couple' by
relatives who held candlelit vigils at the scene of their.
Family described Ross and Clare as ‘a perfect couple' by relatives who held candlelit vigils and left tributes to the pair
Ross'
sister Kelly Woodruff said at the time of court case: 'They were two
amazing people and so, so loved. To have them taken away from us is
heart-wrenching.
'They were the perfect couple. They loved each other unconditionally, they were made for each other.'
Ross' father Edwin Simons had added: 'He is going to serve three years for each of our children's lives.
'With his considerable history it needs looking into because this has gone on for years and years.'
Kelly
Woodruff, Ross' sister said in 2013: 'The people who took their lives
will never understand what they have taken away from us and have never
shown remorse.
'We and those close to Ross and Clare have been given life sentences.
'We
are all truly devastated by the loss. If these individuals had thought
before getting behind the wheel, Ross and Clare’s deaths would have been
avoided and they would still be with us today.'
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