A devastated husband admits he stormed out of court in ‘disgust’ upon hearing the ‘lenient’ sentence for the drink driver who killed his wife, a taxi driver, and a fostered six-year-old boy.
Joe-Lewis Tyler downed five pints of lager, four shots of Sambuca, Jagerbombs and took cocaine and cannabis in a Worcester pub before being kicked out for rowdy behaviour then getting behind the wheel of a BMW 3 Series.
The 34-year-old, who was uninsured, drove erratically at high speeds before ploughing into a taxi driven by Courtney Hemmings, 26, who had ‘no time to react’.
Mother-of-three Claire Adkins, 39, was also in the car with Leo Painter, who was only weeks away from moving back in with his mother, as they travelled back to his foster home.
The two women were killed instantly when Tyler ploughed into their car, with little Leo dying in hospital from multiple injuries the following day.
Alan Adkins (pictured) admits he stormed out of court in ‘disgust’ upon hearing the ‘lenient’ sentence for the drink driver who killed his wife, Claire, and two others
The father-of-three who had been with Claire Adkins for 23 years and married to her for the last year-and-a-half says he’s lost his ‘best friend’ in the devastating ordeal
Joe-Lewis Tyler, who was uninsured, drove erratically and at high speeds whilst under the influence of alcohol and cocaine before ploughing into a taxi and killing three
Tyler, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 18 years at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, August 5 over the fatal collision.
The 34-year-old had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving, three counts of causing death whilst driving without insurance and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
However, Alan Adkins who had been with Claire Adkins for 23 years and married to her for the last year-and-a-half, said the triple killer’s jail term could end after as little as 12 years.
After losing his ‘best friend’ in the devastating ordeal, Mr Adkins, 43, and other family members are now protesting against the ‘lenient’ sentence given to Tyler.
He added that the only people ‘serving time’ are the families of the victims.
The father-of-three as well as the families the other victims gathered at Brickfields Park in Worcester, Worcestershire, last night to release balloons in protest over the prison sentence.
An appeal has also been lodged against the 18-year sentence given to Tyler.
Discussing his late wife, the heartbroken husband said: ‘Claire was bubbly and so laid back but if she had something to say she would tell you what she thought.
‘She never had an argument with anyone in her whole life.
‘As a mum and a wife, everything she did she did for me and the boys. She was very family oriented.
Drunken Joe-Lewis Tyler smashed his grey BMW into a taxi at 90mph killing two women and six-year-old Leo Painter (pictured) on Spetchley Road, Worcester
Pictured: Claire Adkins (left), who was escorting Leo to his foster home, and Courtney Hemming (right), who was driving the Ford which Taylor hit
‘We’re the ones serving the time not him because I haven’t got my wife now and the boys haven’t got their mum,’ Claire’s husband Alan said (pictured: the couple on their wedding day)
‘If he [Tyler] would have got 18 years and served 18 years, we wouldn’t have been happy because no sentence is ever going to be enough, but we would have at least lived with it a bit better.
‘The way our government works, they do let them out early on good behaviour. On good behaviour he only serves 12 years, which to me is not right. It winds me up.
He added: ‘We’re the ones serving the time not him because I haven’t got my wife now and the boys haven’t got their mum.’
Around 1,300 attended the mother-of-three’s funeral, which her husband says ‘speaks volumes of the person she was’.
‘Claire as a person was unreal. I have lost my life through this and my kids have lost a mum,’ Mr Adkins added.
‘I have lost my best friend. We were that type of couple and to each other we were everything.
‘I always used to tell her to make sure I die before you so I didn’t have to live a day without her. That is how close we were as a family.
‘I have got to stay strong as I have three kids. It’s more getting justice for them too. They’re amazing kids and it’s a testament of how we’ve bought them up.’
After the sentencing was given in court last week, Alan said he walked out of the room as he was appalled by the result of the case
The father-of-three as well as the families the other victims gathered at Brickfields Park in Worcester, Worcestershire, last night to release balloons in protest over the prison sentence (pictured)
Leo’s father, Jason, expressed his ‘anger and disgust’ at Tyler’s actions adding the loss of his son had left ‘a massive void’ in his life
After the sentencing was given in court last week, Alan said he walked out of the room as he was appalled by the result of the case.
Alan said: ‘I walked out [of court] in disgust after I heard about him only potentially having to do 12 years.
‘The prosecution did say straight away that they were going to appeal this [the sentencing].
‘By Wednesday, there were people sharing how to lodge the appeal online through the government website and we’ve had such a good response to this.
‘If you throw a big enough stone in the water it’s going to make a big enough ripple.
‘Even if we don’t get it for us. I’m hoping we do as it’s going to be hard enough to move on and start rebuilding the way it is. Even if it can change for future ways.’
Other families of the victims involved in the fatal crash also slammed the prison sentence handed to Taylor.
Ms Hemming’s partner Luke Bridger said: ‘The sentence is no deterrent to anyone. It’s a pathetic sentence. The police did a fantastic job getting the conviction but the courts let the public down.’
A friend of Leo’s devastated mother Gemma said: ‘What an absolute joke. Just 18 years but probably only 12 which is four years for each life he took.
‘It should have been life. The poor little boy had his life cruelly taken away by this lowlife.’
Leo’s heartbroken mother Gemma (pictured), 28, paid tribute to her ‘wonderful’ son, adding: ‘I hope he [Tyler] can live with the fact he killed three innocent people’
Shocking CCTV shows the moment the grey BMW ploughed into the white Ford Mondeo with such force it span 180 degrees and ended up on a grass verge
The court heard Tyler’s passenger Miles Smith-Green also suffered serious injuries including a damaged spleen and dislocated hip
Pictured: Tyler’s car seen travelling at high speed moments before the crash
Leo’s heartbroken mother Gemma, 28, also paid tribute to her ‘wonderful’ son.
She said: ‘I’m glad this is over after a long five months he’s got justice, but it will never be enough it will never bring that beautiful little boy of mine back.
‘I hope he [Tyler] can live with the fact he killed three innocent people.’
Gemma, who had been looking forward to Leo coming to live with her again when he died, added: ‘He always had a smile on his face and was a bundle of fun. I’m heartbroken that I won’t see him again.
‘He loved PAW Patrol and I gave him a pair of pyjamas with his favourite characters on. He said he loved wearing “Mummy’s pyjamas”.’
The court heard Tyler had been boozing with his friend Miles Smith-Green in the West Midlands Tavern, winning £100 on the fruit machines.
After the drunk pair were told to leave the pub for rowdy behaviour, they then got into the BMW and, without wearing seatbelts, drove at high speed towards Badsey, Worcestershire.
One driver said Taylor was travelling so fast she was ‘fearful for her safety’ while another said Tyler almost hit her car at 100mph in a ‘near death experience’.
The court heard his passenger Mr Smith-Green also suffered serious injuries including a damaged spleen and dislocated hip.
Tyler was arrested at the scene and tests revealed he had up to 215 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood – the legal limit being 80ml. An average reading showed he had 159ml – still almost twice the legal limit.
Blood tests also showed high levels of cocaine and cannabis in his system.
Tyler, who spent three weeks in hospital after suffering a broken shin and having spinal surgery, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Chief Inspector Andy Wortley said: ‘Tyler’s selfish and reckless actions on the afternoon of the 22 February have left the family and loved ones of Leo, Courtney and Claire forever heartbroken and a whole community shaken.
‘The length of the sentence he has been given is unprecedented and reflects the devastation he brought to so many people when he got behind the wheel on that day and I’m pleased he will now serve a considerable time in prison.
‘Despite pleading guilty Tyler has not shown any remorse or taken any responsibility for his actions.
Ms Hemming’s partner Luke Bridger said the 18-year sentence was ‘pathetic’, and ‘no deterrent to anyone’
Flowers and soft toys were laid at the scene of a fatal crash on the A44 – Spetchley Road
‘While today’s sentence is welcomed, the pain and suffering the loss of three lives has caused is immeasurable and our thoughts and condolences are with family and loved ones at such a difficult time.’
The sentence followed an investigation by West Mercia Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit.
Chief Inspector Wortley said: ‘Officers within our Serious Collision Investigation Unit carried out diligent enquiries, leaving no stone unturned, to submit a case against Tyler that left him no other option than to plead guilty and I would like to thank everyone in the team for their professionalism, compassion and commitment to bringing this man to justice in such a difficult case.’
The Attorney General’s office has now confirmed it has received a request for Tyler’s sentence to be reconsidered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
In a tweet on X, (formerly Twitter), they tweeted: ‘We have received a request for Joe-Lewis Tyler’s sentence to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
‘Only one referral is needed for a case to be considered and the Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.’