Thame crash victim’s father welcomes death driver’s sentence

THE father of Joe Robinson, the Thame teenager left with serious injuries after a fatal crash caused by drink driving, has welcomed the driver’s 28-month jail sentence.

The crash, on April 7, 2009, killed Grace Hadman, 17, a student at St Edward’s School, Oxford, and left Joe in a chemically induced coma for three weeks. Two other passengers in the car were injured, though less seriously than Joe.

After the guilty verdict of causing death by careless driving, on Gabriella Edmonson at Oxford Crown Court last Friday, (09/10/09), Kevin Robinson made the following statement:

“The sentence handed down today is by some measure appropriate to the enormous damage, hurt and distress caused by the actions of Ms Edmondson on the night of April 7.

“Her actions, and her actions alone, led to the death of a young girl and severe and almost catastrophic injuries to our son Joe.

“Whilst he has made what may appear to be an astounding recovery, the extent of his injuries is both long-term and permanent in their nature.

“How does one explain to a vibrant teenager he can no longer participate in all the things he enjoys?

“How can he rationalise being unable to pursue his previous chosen path as he had planned?

“In a society quick to bemoan the values and behaviour of the irresponsible – and in particular the young – no matter their background and education and yet swift to excuse and decry the application of punishment, today?s sentence sends a clear message to a broad spectrum of today?s youth that irresponsible and reckless behaviour will carry the full force of the law and imprisonment is and should be expected, rather than be seen as an unlikely consequence.

“We are grateful to all those far and wide, nationally and internationally, who have supported us over the past months, in particular we express our heartfelt gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the John Radcliffe Hospital who have been tireless in their efforts to restore Joe to a degree of good health.”

Joe Robinson played rugby for Chinnor RFC and cricket for Thame Town, and though now out of hospital, he faces a long period of rehabilitation following injuries sustained to his head and back in the crash.