Danger driver who caused death of non-league footballer Richie Jordan is jailed
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Mark Thompson, 42, got behind the wheel in the early hours of the morning after going out drinking with work colleagues Richard Jordan and Lewis Atkinson, who were his passengers.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Mr Jordan, who had played for Sunderland RCA and Ryhope CW, was thrown from the car and suffered fatal injuries.
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Hide AdProsecutor Neil Pallister said: "At about 1.25 in the early hours of the 4th of August 2019, the defendant drove a Mercedes motor vehicle in excess of 121mphin a 70mph zone.
"Lewis Atkinson was 26 years of age and was the front seat passenger and Richard Jordan, who was 33 at the time, was a rear seat passenger."
The court was told that Thompson drove towards a Vauxhall Corsa with speed on the A19 near Houghton-le-Spring before hitting it from behind.
The force of the impact caused Thompson's car to spin out of control before it struck a barrier which was uprooted from the ground.
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Hide AdMr Pallister added: "Richard Jordan was thrown out of the Mercedes and died as a result of the injuries sustained.
"Lewis Atkinson suffered a bleed on the brain but refused to assist the prosecution other than to give access to his medical records.
"CCTV and the speed conclusion report showed the Mercedes had been travelling 65mph in a 30mph zone ten minutes or so prior to the incident.
"Following the incident, blood samples were taken from the defendant and at the time of travelling the defendant was over the legal drink and drug drive limits."
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Hide AdThompson blew 118mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood which is one and a half times the limit and also tested positive for a type of cocaine.
In a witness statement, the driver of the Corsa described seeing the defendant's car approaching from behind at a "high speed" as well as straddling the lanes.
Mr Pallister said: "He tried to move his car to the left to allow the approaching car to pass but then felt a heavy bump from behind.
"A post-mortem confirmed Mr Jordan suffered significant injuries which caused his death and were clearly caused having been thrown from the Mercedes which crashed."
Mr Jordan's partner Carol King told the court of how his death had devastated the family.
Mr Jordan was father to daughters Quinn and one-year-old Gray – born after he passed away – and Carol expressed her pain that he would never get to watch his children grow up or get married.
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Hide AdDescribing Thompson as "a man I've never met" she told the court he'd shown no remorse to the family and slammed him as "selfish and irresponsible."
The court also heard a statement from Mr Jordan's sister, Olivia, which read: "I'm mourning the loss of my big brother, my confidant, my protector.
"Richard was always there for me and vice-versa. We could tell each other anything without being judged, knowing we would be there for each otherregardless.
"I've held my mum and dad while they cry for their only son, feeling an indescribable pain and helplessness because they hurt so much and there's nothing I can do."
Thompson, of Seaton Crescent, Seaham has history of driving offences and admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Judge Penny Moreland sentenced him to six years and eight months imprisonment and said: "You're responsible for the death of Richard Jordan and the injuries caused to Lewis Atkinson by your dangerous driving.
"No sentence can ever make up for the loss that family has suffered as a result of what you did.
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Hide Ad"This was a prolonged, persistent course of bad driving. You were driving in excess of the speed limit when the accident occurred."
Martin Scarborough, mitigating, said Thompson had previously written to the family expressing his apologies, and had spent months in hospital himself as a result of injures suffered.
Mr Scarborough added: "In my submission he has shown remorse for his behaviour on this occasion which caused the death of Mr Jordan and the serious injuries to Mr Atkinson.
"He sets out he wishes it was him and not his friend Mr Jordan."
Thompson was also banned from driving for three years upon his release from prison.