Christopher Hicks, of Eynesbury, has been jailed for causing a crash on the A14 which caused the death of St Neots teenager, Jacob Crawshaw.

Jacob, aged 19, was sat in the front seat of a work van being driven by his colleague, Christopher Hicks, 44, on the A14 westbound at around 4:50am on Sunday, October 17, 2021.

As Hicks drove the silver Volkswagen Crafter between junctions 11 and 10, he failed to react to a slower moving Volvo lorry ahead of him.

He crashed into the back of the lorry, causing catastrophic damage to the passenger side of his van, killing Jacob instantly.

Hicks was later arrested by Northamptonshire Police and charged with causing Jacob's death by dangerous driving. 

He had been driving over the speed limit prior to the crash, which had prompted Jacob to message a friend about it.

He was tragically killed 10 minutes later.

Recommended Reading: Craig Rooks fined for damaging crops on Warboys farm

Hicks, of Andrew Road, Eynesbury, St Neots, first appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on January 9, 2023, with the case then sent to Northampton Crown Court.

He went on to enter a guilty plea to one count of causing death by careless driving, and at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday, February 29, Hicks was sent to prison for 30 weeks and banned from driving for three years and 15 weeks.

During sentencing, Jacob’s father James read a moving victim personal statement in which he described the devastating impact of the loss of his ‘amazing’ son on his family and friends.

He said: "On that Sunday morning police officers arrived to tell that us Jacob had been killed at the scene of a road traffic collision.

"I fell to my knees as my world crumbled before me in disbelief and immense pain.

"Our lives were turned upside down in an instant and nothing prepared us for the heartache, anguish, grief, disbelief, anger, distress and trauma we felt.

“Our perfect family of five has been torn apart by the loss of our amazing Jakey… We are cruelly taunted by anniversaries, Christmases, New Years, Fathers’ Day, Mothers’ Day, family and friends’ birthdays.

"The knowledge of his absence… cuts deep like a gaping wound."

Following sentencing, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Janette Maitland, of SCIU, said: “Jacob Crawshaw was a much-loved young man with a bright future ahead of him, but that future was snatched away by the failure of Christopher Hicks to drive safely and responsibly.

“I would like to thank Jacob’s family for their support during our investigation, and I very much hope that they and his wide circle of friends can take some small comfort from knowing Hicks has admitted responsibility for the devastation he has caused and will spend time in prison as a result.”