Mother Condemns Justice System After Drunk Driver Who Killed Her Children Is Freed Early

Rhiannon Lucas, 30, expressed her anger and dismay after Martin Newman, who was responsible for the deaths of her children Gracie-Ann, four, and Jayden-Lee, three, was released from prison after serving only two years of a nine-year and four-month sentence. The children died following a collision on the M4 near Newport, South Wales, on February 5, 2022.

Newman, 45, was over the legal alcohol limit and had cocaine in his system when his Ford Transit van struck the family's stationary car. He pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was sentenced in April 2022 at Cardiff Crown Court and also received a driving ban of 14 years and eight months.

Ms. Lucas had previously criticized the nine-year sentence as "inadequate and pathetic," arguing that Newman should have received a life sentence, though she acknowledged that no sentence would ever be sufficient.

Newman was transferred to an open prison after serving two years of his sentence and was subsequently released last week, having completed half of his term. Ms. Lucas described the justice system as "disgraceful," stating, "Just four pathetic years in jail for killing my two children. He's a free man to do whatever he pleases while my two babies are lying in a grave."

She learned of Newman's release from a probation officer, having been unable to get a response from the parole board. "I'll never hold my children again or hear their laughter again because of his selfish actions that day," she said. "Their little sister Summer-Gracie, who is now three-years-old, will never get to meet her siblings who would have loved her so much. He destroyed my family and now he's a free man."

Ms. Lucas and her partner Adam Saunders had pulled their Ford Fiesta onto the hard shoulder so Gracie-Ann could use the toilet when the crash occurred. Newman had reportedly been drinking with colleagues the night before and consumed multiple cans of Strongbow and cocaine before driving, despite feeling tired and hungover. Witnesses also reported seeing him using his phone while driving and arguing with his ex-partner.

Emergency services found Newman with blood on his hands and smelling of alcohol. He made statements to police indicating remorse, saying, "I want to f***ing die" and "I shouldn't have been in a rush to get home."

Both children sustained catastrophic brain injuries and died in intensive care at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Ms. Lucas suffered a fractured rib and a torn liver. She now faces a lifetime of grief, marking milestones without her children, and is expecting another child who will never know their siblings.

"Instead, I have two graves to visit on birthdays and Christmas and all the milestones my children will never see," Ms. Lucas stated. "I've got a life sentence of my own - one of grief, while he is free to live his life."