Man jailed after head-on collision killed fiance

A speeding motorist who lost control of his car and crashed into another vehicle, killing its driver, has been jailed.

Salisbury Crown Court heard Louis Tavener, 23, from Fell Road, Westbury, was driving at 78 mph on the A3098 outside Chalcot Park Farm, when his BMW crashed into Warwick Bayman's car.

Mr Bayman, 63, from Frome who was due to get married two months later, died at the scene.

Tavener was sentenced to eight and a half years after pleading guilty to two counts of causing serious injury and one of causing death by dangerous driving.

Three passengers inside Tavener's BMW were injured, including one man who was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Speaking on behalf of her family, Mr Bayman's sister Clare said: "My brother was a commercial pilot, an HGV Class 1 driver and a superbly skilled rally driver who had nothing to prove on the road.

"Yet, he was killed by a driver who was going too fast for his level of driving experience."

She went on to say that: "Warwick's family, fiance and friends will always hold him in their memories as being one of the really good guys and he will be greatly missed."

Sgt Rich Hatch, from Wiltshire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Team said: "Tavener's actions directly changed the lives of numerous people forever.

"His sentence today should serve as a warning to others who make conscious decisions to drive too fast in wet conditions."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.