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28/04/2009
'Suicidal' Driver Jailed Over Death Crash
A drink-driver who was sending "suicidal" text messages to his wife has been jailed for nine years killing a mother-of-two in a head-on crash.
Paul Cox, 34, of Hennock, Devon, ploughed into Alison Langton's car head-on as he crossed onto the wrong side of the road on the Exminster bypass last November.
The court heard the last text sent to him was at the moment his car hit 33-year-old Ms Langton's vehicle.
Cox admitted causing death by dangerous driving, a charge that was accepted by the prosecution after he denied manslaughter.
The 34-year-old – who was banned from driving in 2001 for drink driving - was twice the drink-driving limit and had previously sent a string of text messages to his wife Kelly, threatening to kill himself.
On the day of the crash, the court heard father-of-four Cox had been told by his wife to leave the family home.
Prosecutor Sarah Munro QC said one of the texts to his wife said: "You wont see me again" and "It would be easy to drive into something".
In a text to a friend, he said he was "going to kill myself".
Judge Graham Cottle said Cox was "distracted by your mobile phone retrieving a text message at the very minute the accident occurred".
Alison, a train driver for First Great Western, who had moved to Devon from Crewe, was the mother of two children, aged 15 and 11, who are now being looked after by her mother June.
Sixty-four-year-old June said after the case: "I have not had one happy day since it happened."
Cox was also banned from driving for seven years.
(JM/BMcc)
Paul Cox, 34, of Hennock, Devon, ploughed into Alison Langton's car head-on as he crossed onto the wrong side of the road on the Exminster bypass last November.
The court heard the last text sent to him was at the moment his car hit 33-year-old Ms Langton's vehicle.
Cox admitted causing death by dangerous driving, a charge that was accepted by the prosecution after he denied manslaughter.
The 34-year-old – who was banned from driving in 2001 for drink driving - was twice the drink-driving limit and had previously sent a string of text messages to his wife Kelly, threatening to kill himself.
On the day of the crash, the court heard father-of-four Cox had been told by his wife to leave the family home.
Prosecutor Sarah Munro QC said one of the texts to his wife said: "You wont see me again" and "It would be easy to drive into something".
In a text to a friend, he said he was "going to kill myself".
Judge Graham Cottle said Cox was "distracted by your mobile phone retrieving a text message at the very minute the accident occurred".
Alison, a train driver for First Great Western, who had moved to Devon from Crewe, was the mother of two children, aged 15 and 11, who are now being looked after by her mother June.
Sixty-four-year-old June said after the case: "I have not had one happy day since it happened."
Cox was also banned from driving for seven years.
(JM/BMcc)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
