A beloved dad-of-three was killed in a horror crash caused by a teen driver who, while attempting to escape police, ignored a give way sign and collided with another vehicle.  Brandon Varley’s front seat passenger and friend, Tze Chun Tsang, aged 51, was killed in the collision. Sheffield Crown Court heard how after causing the two-vehicle crash Varley, then aged 18, fled the scene. In emotional statements read to the court during a hearing on March 4, 2024, Mr Tsang’s loved ones detailed the devastating impact his loss continues to have on his family.  Despite never holding a full driving licence, Varley was disqualified from driving just two days before the fatal collision on Brierley Road, Grimethorpe, Barnsley.  Defending, John Bottomley told the court that despite Varley, now aged 21, handing himself into police a month after the collision, he was not charged until June 28, 2023 - over two years later.   Mr Bottomley asked Judge Wright to take into consideration Varley’s young age at the time of the collision, as well as the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis he has received from doctors since. "The doctor comments that from a young age he has never known his father and he’s had no male role model," he said. "The probation report says he’s sought male role models which has contributed to further offending," Mr Bottomley added. Judge Sarah Wright jailed Varley for seven years, and told him he must spend at least two-thirds of his sentence behind barsplaceholder image
A beloved dad-of-three was killed in a horror crash caused by a teen driver who, while attempting to escape police, ignored a give way sign and collided with another vehicle.  Brandon Varley’s front seat passenger and friend, Tze Chun Tsang, aged 51, was killed in the collision. Sheffield Crown Court heard how after causing the two-vehicle crash Varley, then aged 18, fled the scene. In emotional statements read to the court during a hearing on March 4, 2024, Mr Tsang’s loved ones detailed the devastating impact his loss continues to have on his family.  Despite never holding a full driving licence, Varley was disqualified from driving just two days before the fatal collision on Brierley Road, Grimethorpe, Barnsley.  Defending, John Bottomley told the court that despite Varley, now aged 21, handing himself into police a month after the collision, he was not charged until June 28, 2023 - over two years later.   Mr Bottomley asked Judge Wright to take into consideration Varley’s young age at the time of the collision, as well as the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis he has received from doctors since. "The doctor comments that from a young age he has never known his father and he’s had no male role model," he said. "The probation report says he’s sought male role models which has contributed to further offending," Mr Bottomley added. Judge Sarah Wright jailed Varley for seven years, and told him he must spend at least two-thirds of his sentence behind bars | SYP

Killer drivers in Sheffield and South Yorkshire jailed or set to be sentenced in 2024

Chloe Aslett
By Chloe Aslett

Digital Journalist

Published 22nd Jun 2024, 06:00 GMT

So far in 2024, more than sixteen people have lost their lives on the roads of South Yorkshire.

And a number of motorists involved in fatal collisions have been jailed this year too.

One sentencing which took place only a few weeks ago, on May 24, dealt with a fatal collision which happened in October 2021.

South Yorkshire Police ‘dealt with’ over 200 people in April as part of the national Fatal4 campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the four main attributing factors to fatal and serious collisions: speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelts and driving while under the influence of drink and drugs.

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Roads Policing Inspector Matt Collings said: “People think it won’t happen to them, but road traffic collisions can happen to anyone, any age.

“We have heard every excuse and reason possible to why people decide to risk it, but it’s not worth it. You could kill or seriously injure someone and face a lengthy prison sentence.”

Set out below are seven killer drivers in South Yorkshire and the circumstances which led to tragedy.

A man has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court for causing the deaths of a father and son. Paul Yates, aged 36, of Manor Road in Barnsley, got behind the wheel of his car while uninsured and only holding a provisional driving licence. He caused the deaths of Dean Jones, 44, and Lewis Daines, 16, who were out cycling together, before fleeing the scene, continuing to drive and injuring a woman and her children. Around 9pm on January 20, 2023, Yates was driving along Royston Road in Barnsley. He attempted to overtake a vehicle on a single carriageway, but during the manoeuvre he lost control of the car and left the carriageway, travelling at speed towards father and son, Dean Jones, 44, and Lewis Daines, 16, who were out cycling together. Following the collision, Yates got out of his car, walked over to Dean and Lewis, who lay critically injured on the ground, before getting back in his car and fleeing the scene. Witnesses stayed with Dean and Lewis and called for help. CCTV footage shows Yates’ car extremely damaged and him continuing to drive it, with the bonnet flying up and blocking his view out of his windscreen. A short time later, he collided into the back of another car at speed, leaving children inside frightened and shocked as he drove off again and started his attempts to evade the police. After 11 days on the run, he was arrested. Yates pleaded guilty to causing deaths by dangerous driving and a separate count of dangerous driving. At Sheffield Crown Court on May 20, 2024, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, reduced from 18 years due to his early guilty plea. He was also disqualified from driving for 13 years.

5. Paul Yates

A man has been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court for causing the deaths of a father and son. Paul Yates, aged 36, of Manor Road in Barnsley, got behind the wheel of his car while uninsured and only holding a provisional driving licence. He caused the deaths of Dean Jones, 44, and Lewis Daines, 16, who were out cycling together, before fleeing the scene, continuing to drive and injuring a woman and her children. Around 9pm on January 20, 2023, Yates was driving along Royston Road in Barnsley. He attempted to overtake a vehicle on a single carriageway, but during the manoeuvre he lost control of the car and left the carriageway, travelling at speed towards father and son, Dean Jones, 44, and Lewis Daines, 16, who were out cycling together. Following the collision, Yates got out of his car, walked over to Dean and Lewis, who lay critically injured on the ground, before getting back in his car and fleeing the scene. Witnesses stayed with Dean and Lewis and called for help. CCTV footage shows Yates’ car extremely damaged and him continuing to drive it, with the bonnet flying up and blocking his view out of his windscreen. A short time later, he collided into the back of another car at speed, leaving children inside frightened and shocked as he drove off again and started his attempts to evade the police. After 11 days on the run, he was arrested. Yates pleaded guilty to causing deaths by dangerous driving and a separate count of dangerous driving. At Sheffield Crown Court on May 20, 2024, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, reduced from 18 years due to his early guilty plea. He was also disqualified from driving for 13 years. | SYP

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A pensioner whose ‘comprehensively deplorable’ driving killed a man, and seriously injured his wife and 10-year-old son, has been jailed. On April 3, 2022 at 1.30pm, Barrie Barker, aged 69, of Wharncliffe, Dodworth, was driving a red Mini Cooper on Claycliffe Road in Barugh Green, Barnsley, when he dangerously overtook a car at the brow of a hill and caused a fatal road traffic collision. Sheffield Crown Court heard how a dangerous manoeuvre led to Barker’s Mini clipping a blue Vauxhall Astra, causing it to be propelled into the path of an oncoming HGV. The Astra was being driven by 34-year-old Alexander Firth and carrying two passengers, his wife Kirsty, and his 10-year-old son. Alexander suffered fatal injuries during the collision and sadly died at the scene. The two passengers were seriously injured. Barker was found guilty of two counts of causing injury by dangerous driving and one count of causing death by dangerous driving at Sheffield Crown Court in May 2024. On May 17, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and handed a five-year extended driving ban.

6. Barrie Barker (photo shows site of crash, Claycliffe Road)

A pensioner whose ‘comprehensively deplorable’ driving killed a man, and seriously injured his wife and 10-year-old son, has been jailed. On April 3, 2022 at 1.30pm, Barrie Barker, aged 69, of Wharncliffe, Dodworth, was driving a red Mini Cooper on Claycliffe Road in Barugh Green, Barnsley, when he dangerously overtook a car at the brow of a hill and caused a fatal road traffic collision. Sheffield Crown Court heard how a dangerous manoeuvre led to Barker’s Mini clipping a blue Vauxhall Astra, causing it to be propelled into the path of an oncoming HGV. The Astra was being driven by 34-year-old Alexander Firth and carrying two passengers, his wife Kirsty, and his 10-year-old son. Alexander suffered fatal injuries during the collision and sadly died at the scene. The two passengers were seriously injured. Barker was found guilty of two counts of causing injury by dangerous driving and one count of causing death by dangerous driving at Sheffield Crown Court in May 2024. On May 17, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and handed a five-year extended driving ban. | Google Maps

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A Rotherham woman admitted killing a Sheffield cyclist during a court hearing held on May 9, 2024. Gillian Dungworth entered a guilty plea to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving at Sheffield Crown Court. It follows a crash involving a car and bicycle on Ringinglow Road at 5.39pm on September 15, 2022. Cyclist Adrian Lane, aged 58, of Greystones Road died later the same day in hospital. The father-of-two had been about to start a new life with his sweetheart Monica Bolado in Spain. The case has been adjourned and Dungworth, aged 40, of Marlowe Road, Herringthorpe, Rotherham, is due to be sentenced in June 2024.

7. Gillian Dungworth (photo shows victim, Adrian Lane)

A Rotherham woman admitted killing a Sheffield cyclist during a court hearing held on May 9, 2024. Gillian Dungworth entered a guilty plea to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving at Sheffield Crown Court. It follows a crash involving a car and bicycle on Ringinglow Road at 5.39pm on September 15, 2022. Cyclist Adrian Lane, aged 58, of Greystones Road died later the same day in hospital. The father-of-two had been about to start a new life with his sweetheart Monica Bolado in Spain. The case has been adjourned and Dungworth, aged 40, of Marlowe Road, Herringthorpe, Rotherham, is due to be sentenced in June 2024. | Submit

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