Speeding Derbyshire driver who killed two men in crash while drunk and high on cocaine sees prison sentence increased

Darren Burton was jailed for four years and eight months earlier this year for causing the deaths of Andrew Calf and Allan Reeve by dangerous driving.

Burton, of Waterford Drive, Derby, was over the limit for both drink and drugs when he crashed his Vauxhall Combo van into metal barriers near to Rollerworld in Mansfield Road, Derby, on June 18, 2022. As well as driving while drunk and drugged his van was also found to have seriously underinflated tyres and was speeding at the time of the crash.

Zoe Reeve, a front seat passenger in the van, was not seriously injured but her husband Allan and father Andrew, who had been in the back of the van, which did not have any seats and was also filled with bags of cement and tools, were thrown out of the vehicle in the collision. Mr Reeve died at the scene, while Mr Calf was taken to hospital with serious injuries and died on 10 July 2022.

In a victim personal statement read out at the original sentencing hearing, Mrs Reeve told how she ran between her loved ones as they both lay seriously injured in the road.

She said: “As I was a passenger in the van it was devastating for me to see both Allan and my dad with such severe injuries. I didn’t want either my dad or my husband to be on their own or die alone. Our happy family was ripped apart by the collision.”

Following the initial sentencing at Derby Crown Court in February a decision was made to appeal the initial prison term handed to the 41-year-old – which Allan and Andrew’s family supported.

And on Friday 28 April, Burton saw his jail term increased to five years and ten months at the Court of Appeal in London after three High Court judges ruled it was unduly lenient.

Detective Sergeant Craig Walker, from the force’s Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We have worked closely with the family to ensure that Burton faces justice for his actions and we welcome the revised sentence which better reflects the seriousness of the crime.

“While no sentence can ever bring back Andrew and Allan I hope this gives the family a degree of closure following what has been an incredibly traumatic experience.

“I also hope that the increase sends a message to anyone who gets behind the wheel about the consequences of driving while impaired either through drink or drugs and serves as a reminder of the need to ensure your vehicle is in a roadworthy state, and to stick to the speed limit.

“None of us want to have to break the worst possible news any family could ever hear so please, just don’t take the risk. It’s not worth it.”