Ross Neville left friend Matthew Newton, 28, with ‘unsurvivable injuries’. Victim’s mum Anne Douglas tells him: “I hope you never forget what he looked like dead and trapped in your car’
A drink driver who left his friend dead at the scene of a crash was told by the victim’s mum: “I hope you never forget what he looked like dead in your car.”
Ross Neville was jailed for 11 years and 11 months today after leaving his friend Matthew Newton, 28, with ‘unsurvivable injuries’ on the A69 near Throckley, Newcastle at 11.30pm on November 28, 2024.
Matthew’s courageous mum Anne Douglas bravely faced Neville in court and told him: “I hope you never forget what Matthew looked like dead in your car. I hope you have nightmares every night like I do. I hope it haunts you. I couldn’t even give my beautiful boy a kiss on his cheek because of the injuries you caused him.
“My son’s life was priceless, you have stolen that from me. I will never, ever forget you for your actions that night and the way you have conducted yourself since.”
CCTV captured Neville as he raced from the scene after telling a heavy goods vehicle driver that his friend ‘was fine’ in the car. He gave himself up to police next day asking: “Has he he died like?”
Matthew, of Carlisle, Cumbria, was pronounced dead at the scene. Neville admitted causing Matthew’s death by dangerous driving and causing death whilst driving without insurance.
The court heard that Neville had driven from his home in Scotland to collect his friend and take him for a night out in Newcastle. They were captured on CCTV drinking together during the night out as detectives pieced together their movements in the hours before the tragedy.
Despite fleeing the scene, investigators proved Neville was over the drink drive limit at the time of the collision through CCTV and financial enquiries. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Neville drank two pints of lager, five shots of Kahlua, three double gins and a shot of tequila before getting into the car with Matthew.
Then, Neville attempted to drive back to Carlisle from Newcastle city centre. He had deactivated the seatbelt sensors on the Ford Ranger Raptor, and neither of the men had one on.
Two witnesses reported the Raptor overtaking them at high speed before Neville lost control of the car.
Data recovered from the police showed the Raptor was travelling at 108 mph seconds before the pickup started drifting towards the grass verge and crashed into the steel barrier.
Police investigators found “no obvious reason” for the collision, but noted that the brake pedal was not used at any point, and Neville had steered sharply right in the last second before the collision. Footage captured him driving dangerously, narrowly missing street furniture and overtaking other vehicles. Neville, now 35 and from Canonbie in Dumfriesshire, received a seven-year driving ban, effective upon his release from prison.
Matthew’s mum Anne Douglas continued in her statement: “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.” She said: “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.” Speaking after the court case, 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.” Neville had 21 previous convictions for 45 offences and 11 points on his driving licence from three speeding offences in July and September 2024. Previous driving convictions were considered aggravating factors. He was also one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-driving limit.
