(Image: CONTRIBUTOR)
A teenager who killed a much-loved dad in a County Durham crash faces jail today.
Jack Appleton will today (October 12) be sentenced for dangerously driving before a fatal crash on Spring Road in Murton, near Dalton Park, on September 22, 2024.
The then-17-year-old performed a "highly dangerous” overtaking manoeuvre “at excessive speeds” before four cars collided.
Andrew, a dad to four-year-old Ayla, died at the scene of the incident, leaving his grief-stricken mother Julie McDonald and partner Danielle devastated.
Appleton, of Coach Lane in Hazlerigg, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in August and is due to be sentenced later today.
He will appear at Teesside Crown Court in front of Judge Rippon.
Andrew Robson died in a crash in September 2024 (Image: DURHAM POLICE)
The same court previously heard how Appleton was driving “in excess of 70mph and performed an overtaking manoeuvre of more than one vehicle” at the time of the crash.
Chris Morrison, mitigating, noted how Appleton, who is currently undergoing an apprenticeship, had no previous convictions.
Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Francis Laird KC told Appleton at the time that he would likely receive a "substantial sentence” and disqualified him from driving.
Andrew Robson and his mother Julie (Image: CONTRIBUTOR)
Despite being spared the agonising process of a trial, Andrew’s mother Julie, 54, from Wideopen, said she “doesn’t think she will ever get rid of the pain”.
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She described Andrew, from Cramlington, as the "loveliest person”: “He would help anyone and he was obsessed with cars and motorbikes. He was very very popular too.
“He was the loveliest looking man and I always used to say: ‘How have I given birth to the most handsome man ever?’
She previously said no sentence “will ever be long enough”, adding: “All I have ever looked for is some sort of remorse. I have never gotten it.”