Driver found guilty after death crash trial (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bridport man jailed for four and a half years

10:04am Friday 4th May 2012 in Bridport By Harry Hogger

THE father of a teenager killed in a tragic fatal crash has asked ‘where’s the justice?’ after the driver responsible was jailed for four and a half years.

James Stephen Marshall Griffiths, 22, was convicted of causing the death of 17-year-old Tash Samways by dangerous driving following an eight-day trial at Dorchester Crown Court.

The popular teenager from Bridport was killed in a crash on the B3157 Weymouth to Bridport coast road near the turning to Langton Herring on January 20 last year.

Her father Colin Sweet said he was angry at the length of sentence imposed for the offence after Griffiths ‘took away my angel’.

It took the jury of eight men and four women just under four and a half hours to reach the majority verdict.

Griffiths, of Jessopp Avenue, Bridport, had been seen drinking three pints of lager and a shot in Bridport on the night of the crash and drove Miss Samways and two friends to Weymouth.

However, he was not allowed into Dusk nightclub as he did not have any identification and was heard to tell door staff at the establishment ‘time me, I’ll see how quick I can be’ as they got back into the car to drive back to Bridport and collect his passport.

It was on that journey that the crash occurred.

As he sentenced Griffiths, Judge Roger Jarvis told the defendant: “The consequences here are both tragic and appalling and there is a price to pay and you have to pay it.”

Griffiths was also banned from driving for five years.

Following the sentencing Miss Samways’ father Colin Sweet slammed the prison term imposed by the judge.

Mr Sweet said: “I’m feeling angry at the length of the sentence he got.

Mr Sweet and his wife Lil also said they wanted to thank Dorset Police and everybody involved in the case for their efforts and their family and friends, as well as Tash’s friends, for the support they had received.

See Wednesday's Bridport and Lyme Regis News for more.