A drink driver who killed his friend in a Newcastle collision has been jailed.
Shortly after 11.30pm on Thursday, November 28 2024, police received a report of a one-vehicle collision on the A69 near Throckley.
A HGV driver dialled 999 after coming across a grey Ford Raptor that had collided with a barrier on the westbound carriageway.
Emergency services were swiftly deployed where a passenger from the car – 28-year-old Matthew Newton, of Carlisle – was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the aftermath, Matthew’s then-friend and the driver Ross Neville had fled the area before police arrived.
An investigation was immediately launched by the force’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit – leading to Neville’s arrest the following day.
He was later charged with offences including causing Matthew’s death by dangerous driving and causing death while driving without insurance.
Despite fleeing the scene, investigators were able to prove he was over the drink drive limit at the time of the collision through CCTV and financial enquiries.
They discovered that Neville had been drinking pints of beer, shots and spirits in a city centre bar with Matthew for five hours before driving them home.
Footage captured him driving dangerously, narrowly missing street furniture and overtaking vehicles at speed – with his vehicle reaching 108mph just before the collision itself.
On Friday January 23, Neville pleaded guilty to all offences at Newcastle Crown Court – and today he was sentenced to 11 years and 11 months in prison by a judge.
Neville, now 35, of Canonbie in Dumfriesshire,was also given a seven-year driving ban to start upon his release from prison.
At the hearing, a statement was read out as Matthew’s mum Anna spoke of her family’s pain of losing their first born child of three.
She said: “November 28 2024 will always be the date that broke my heart and changed my life forever. My life as I knew it ended that day to be replaced with the mere existence I live with now.
“I never thought I would ever be in a position to know what losing a child felt like.
“We have been robbed of Matthew’s future in the most traumatic, horrific way, with so many things stolen from us, seeing what he would have become, seeing him get married, having children of his own and watching him proudly as he fulfilled his dreams.
“lnstead, we now have to live with this void in our lives and also watch his brother, sister and grandparents heartbroken trying to adjust to a life without him.
“Life is hard now, a daily struggle filled with a constant overwhelming sadness, my heart aches every waking minute and the feeling of loss is painfully unbearable.
“Matthew was the most beautiful person, had the absolute best of friends, lived at home with us, would do anything for anyone, built up a successful business and was simply loved by everyone who knew him, he had the brightest smile and lit up every room he walked into.
“At 28 years old he should have had his whole future ahead of him, now all I’m left with is an empty chair.”
After sentencing, Sergeant Greg Huntley, of Northumbria Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This was a shocking incident – with Neville driving so dangerously and recklessly that he killed his friend Matthew.
“Worse still, he has then went on to tell the HGV driver who came across the crash that his friend was fine, before shamelessly fleeing the scene.
“It is clear to me that Neville was not a good friend – and he only had himself in mind that evening as he left Matthew with unsurvivable injuries in his car.
“Despite the challenges faced in the early stages of the investigation, we were able to trawl CCTV and financial data to piece together Neville’s actions.
“From this, we know that he consumed alcohol to the excess in Newcastle city centre before getting back in his pick-up truck to drive them home.
“He thought by running away he could hide how much he had drank – but thanks to tireless work by officers we proved this in other ways.”
Sgt Huntley added: “As ever, our thoughts firmly remain with all of Matthew’s loved ones as they continue to navigate a life without him.
“While no result will take away their anguish, I hope they feel a sense of comfort knowing Neville will spend a lengthy spell in prison.”
