1 week Ago By [email protected] (Claire Harrison)
The heartbroken families of three teenagers have told their killer the devastation he has caused. Prior to Edward Spencer being sentenced for causing the deaths of Harry Purcell, Tilly Seccombe, and Frank Wormald, their families spoke of the impact of his actions on April 21, 2023. Harry, Tilly and Frank were all passengers in Spencer's car when the speeding 'cavalier' driver lost control on a bend and spun into the other carriageway, hitting a Fiesta.
It caused what Judge Andrew Lockhart KC described as a 'catastrophic' collision. The three teenage passengers were severely injured and, despite the attempts of medics, they sadly died in the hospital. For their families, they told Warwick Crown Court that it was a day that changed their lives forever.
READ MORE: 'Don't underestimate me' - Killer teen driver's chilling Snapchat message weeks before fatal Warwickshire crash READ MORE: Teen driver had licence six weeks before killing three friends in horror Warwickshire crash In her statement, Juliet Seccombe, Tilly’s mother spoke of how her 'bright and beautiful' daughter, who was a trusted friend and secret keeper. She spoke of how she could have 'done anything' but explained Tilly had a passion for cooking and dreamed of being a chef on yachts, travelling the world. "It feels like a meteorite has hit our family, that has spread far and wide, leaving only darkness and despair.
" "It feels like the future does not exist anymore," the statement added. "Walking past her bedroom morning and night, the empty seat at the dinner table, everywhere holds a memory of Tilly and what we have lost." Her father, James, said, in a statement to Judge Andrew Lockhart KC: "Our language, the English language, does not have the words to adequately describe the torture of losing a child, particularly in such horrific circumstances.
"Tilly was a bright and shining light not only in my life, but those of her mother, brother, wider family and friends and all her knew her. "Trying to navigate a future without her is brutal. As Tilly's father, I will forever be responsible for giving my permission for her to travel in Edward Spencer's car.
However, while on the road, the responsibility for the safety and well-being of the occupants lies with the driver and Edward stood in my living room and assured me he would drive carefully with Tilly and other friends in his car." Judge Lockhart KC said to Spencer: "He (David) sets out, to his horror, that as a father, at finding out that this was not a responsibility you (Spencer) took seriously enough." 'Franky Fan Club' Kate, Frank's mum, said in her statement: "There is no acceptance in finding peace or moving on or moving forwards, for me, there is only before and after.
" Speaking about her son, she wrote: "He was the noisiest, funniest person in the room, coupled with his kindness and emotional intelligence and you had a knock-out combination. "People described him as 'golden', 'special', 'sparkling' and 'charming', he was a collector of people and he had a wide circle of friends we used to call the Franky Fan Club." She said to Spencer: "On a bright Friday afternoon, Frank did trust you, when we weren't around, to drive him ten minutes down the road to Harry's house.
But you betrayed his trust, you barely got him five minutes from our door." In his statement, Frank's father David said: "His reason for being was to make me laugh and he took that very seriously, he never lost that joyful nature, even through his teenage years as he approached adulthood. "Frank was a special person, he brought light and colour into our lives and the lives of his friends.
Life with Frank was fun, joyful, he made us laugh everyday." The statement added: "Part of me will forever live in the past, in a desperate attempt to stay connected to Frank." Harry's mother, Toni Purcell, was 'broken beyond repair' and said the pain she was experiencing was 'beyond words'.
"His passing has left a huge chasm in our lives that will not be filled." In her statement, his sister Lauren said "Harry, he was the most beautiful boy, the kindest soul, he was loved by so many people, he made us all laugh so much. "You just couldn't help but love him.
He would have done anything for me, absolutely anything." His twin brother Charlie drove past the scene of the accident and saw his twin lying on the road. "I miss him so much, it is a like a part of me has died," he said.
True exemplars Speaking prior to the sentencing, the Judge said: "All of these children were true exemplars of the very, very best that our community has to offer and it is plain that the world will be a poorer place for their untimely passing." Spencer was sentenced to 24 months in youth detention and banned from driving for eight years. This came after he admitted three counts of causing death by careless driving and three counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.
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