Grieving West Sussex family issue heartfelt appeal to drink and drug-drivers after death of son, 19

Aidan Venison, from Thakeham, died on June 30, 2024 – just two days before he was due to turn 20.

In the early hours of that morning, he was the victim of a collision caused by Toby Spiring.

The 28-year-old – of Howard Place, Littlehampton – was driving his father’s Mazda CX-5 northbound on the B2133 at Newpound, near Wisborough Green, according to Sussex Police.

Police said Spring overtook another car and collided head-on with 19-year-old Aidan, who had been riding his Lexmoto motorcycle in the opposite direction.

Despite the best efforts of members of the public and paramedics, Aidan was tragically declared dead at the scene.

Aidan's parents Tracy and Darran joined Sussex Police’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) as officers conducted routine roadside drink and drug-driving checks on Friday, November 7.

This took place in the layby at Saltings Roundabout, Shoreham – identified as one of the 'high harm routes', with a larger than average number of serious and fatal collisions.

Paying tribute to her son, Tracy said: “Aidan was 19 when we lost him. He was a really lovely lad.

“He had a really playful nature about him – a good set of morals I'd say. He was like an old man in young man's shoes.

"He was loyal and just a really caring, sensitive lad. A really sweet boy.

“His death left us devastated. You can't explain how you feel. I think day to day it changes. It's a huge loss.

“His younger brother misses him dearly – he's only 13 years old. It's just something that you don't ever expect to be dealing with.”

Darran – from Surrey – said his son was a ‘great kid’, who was ‘full of life’.

The grieving father added: “He was a talented artist, just starting out in his life, which was unnecessarily taken from him.”

Tracy and Darran both spoke of how their son's death should show the real-life consequences of drink and drug-driving.

Tracy explained: “It can have a huge, devastating impact on people's lives. It destroys lives.

“It's also the massive ripple effect that comes with it. It impacts people for the rest of their lives.

"So I think any message we can get across to people who drink-drive is a huge message and a big step in the right direction.

“Just don't drink and drive. Don't do drugs and drive. It's as simple as that. Just don't do it.

“If it can make one person think about getting in that car after they've had a couple of drinks, then that's one less person off the road.

“That's potentially another family that hasn't been destroyed.

“Especially at this time of year, if we can actually make people think about it at Christmas.”

Darran added: “What seems like an inconsequential journey from the pub, it can be a mile down the road, it doesn't make any difference. It's just not worth it.”

Spiring – who police said had been drinking with a friend at a pub in Billingshurst before the fatal incident – was subsequently arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He was twice the legal drink-driving limit, police said.

Spiring pleaded guilty to the offence and appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, October 14, where he was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment.

Police said the sentence was reduced from 12 years for Spiring’s early guilty plea. He was also given a five-year disqualification which takes effect on the date of his release from prison, and must take an extended re-test if he wishes to drive again, police said.

Tracy and Darran both called for tougher sentences in the future.

“In Aidan's case, his defendant killed him, and he's now doing four years inside prison and four years on license,” Tracy said.

“To me, there's no justice in what he's done to Aidan.”

Darran added: “I definitely believe that there should be harsher sentences.

“I strongly believe that in the circumstances of Aidan's death, there should not be an option to plead guilty and have a third taking of the sentence.

“It doesn't sit that well with anyone in the family.”

Sergeant Steve Lambeth, of the Roads Policing Unit, praised Aidan's parents for speaking out.

"I think it's very brave of them," he said.

"If people don't take the messages from the police and the fire service and the other agencies that give out this messaging, then how can they ignore a family that's been personally impacted and affected by such a traumatic incident?

"It's not worth the risk. There's the risk of them personally losing their licence, potentially going to prison.

"Families are devastated by the results of drink-driving collisions. It's selfish.

"We can't be everywhere, but we can be anywhere. It only takes us being in the right place at the wrong time and that person can get caught, lose their licence, and potentially they can go to prison."