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Drug driver jailed for killing teenager in moped crash

Avon and Somerset Police Police mugshot of Harry Charlton. He is wearing a grey t-shirt and standing against a grey background, looking at the camera. He has green-grey eyes and shaggy, light brown hair which is sweeping across his forehead.Avon and Somerset Police
Charlton was under the influence of cannabis when he ran a red light and crashed into the teenager's moped

A drug driver has been jailed for killing a 16-year-old boy after running through a red light at a roundabout and crashing into his moped.

Harry Charlton, 29, of Kingswood, Bristol, admitted causing the death of Daniel Davies by careless driving while over the prescribed limit of cannabis.

Charlton's Ford Fiesta hit the teenager's moped while driving over the speed limit on the A4174 Wraxall Road roundabout in Warmley, South Gloucestershire on 17 April 2022.

He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court earlier to five years in prison, a two year driving ban from his release date, and ordered to carry out an extended re-test.

Samantha Davies Daniel Davies smiling at the camera. He has braces on and white earphones in. He is wearing a black jacket and a red jumper with the hood pulled up. His hands are gently pulling at the front of the hood.Samantha Davies
Mr Davies' mother said "the only positive is that he died instantaneously and did not suffer"

Mr Davies' mother, Samantha Davies, paid tribute to her son following today's sentencing.

She told the court his death came just four months after the passing of her husband.

"I will never understand why Daniel was taken from us so soon and there will never be a sentence long enough," she said.

"He was one of the good ones in life. He was clever, funny and had a good heart. He had his whole future ahead of him.

"The pain of losing Daniel is a pain like no other. Myself, the family, friends and his friends will miss him forever, but we will all live for him and never forget him," she said.

Sandra Dixon, Mr Davies' grandmother, added: “Samantha will never fully recover from this. This was a young life cruelly taken away from all of us.”

Samantha Davies Daniel Davies smiling at the camera, sitting outdoors near some trees and wearing a black coat with his hood up. Samantha Davies
Despite the best efforts of members of the public, an off-duty police officer and attending emergency services, Mr Davies sadly died at the scene

Dai Nicholas, investigating officer, said: "Daniel's family have shown extraordinary courage over an unimaginably difficult two-and-a-half-years and I'd like to pay tribute to them for that.

"This is yet another example of someone's life being tragically cut short due to a driver not being in a fit state to be on the roads.

"Drugs impair your ability to drive safely and risk causing yourself or other motorists coming to serious harm.

"Charlton was solely responsible for Daniel's death and will face the consequences of his decisions that night for the rest of his life."

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