Driver orphan's two children after killing their dad one year after mum died
A reckless driver who killed a grieving father of two just a year after his wife died has been jailed - with the judge telling him ‘you have orphaned his children’.
Salesman Adeel Safdar, 28, reached ‘extraordinary’ speeds of 93mph moments before the collision in Manchester, and crashed into the father at 83mph in a 30mph zone.
Jonathan Langston, 52, died instantly in the crash on March 17 last year, just one year after his wife Helen lost her battle with cancer. Their funerals were held on the same date, one year apart.
In a chilling confession, Safdar later told police: “It's the worst thing I could ever do, I have caused death”.
Manchester Crown Court was told that Mr Langston was ‘finally starting to come to terms' with the loss of his wife before his 'unnecessary and pointless' death. During Safdar’s sentencing, the judge told him “you have in effect orphaned his children”.
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The IT consultant had spent the evening with his friends in Chorlton, Manchester, on the evening of the crash when he was walking home.
Mr Langston's daughter says he was the 'rock' that held everyone together (GMP)Meanwhile Safdar, from Stretford, Greater Manchester, had gone to a friend's house to watch The Apprentice when he got into his VW Golf just after midnight. CCTV footage showed him using a right turn only lane to overtake another vehicle, before accelerating to extraordinary speeds.
The court was told that 100 metres before the crash, the salesman had reached 93mph, and at the time of the collision he was driving at speeds of at least 83mph. Mr Langston was crossing the road and would have reached the other side 'without incident' if Safdar had been driving safely, prosecutor David James said.
But the father was hit and died instantly from 'catastrophic' injuries. Safdar did not stop at the scene initially, but returned shortly after.
He later told police: “It's the worst thing I could ever do, I have caused death”, and admitted to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on January 17 and will serve around five years and four months.
In an emotional hearing, the court heard statements from Mr Langston's children, family and friends.
Langston’s brother addressed Safdar in court, saying: “No sentence will be long enough to pay for the suffering he had caused and is still causing our family”.
His daughter Ella was at university when he died and described to the court that it was like waking up to a 'nightmare'. She added he was the 'rock' that held everyone together. His other daughter, Georgia, said their father had been 'terrified' of leaving them alone since their mother's death and had also given up smoking.
His friends spoke of his 'warmth', 'selfless nature' and 'strength', adding that the 52-year-old was an inspiration.
Safdar's lawyer, said he 'cannot explain' why he decided to speed on that night (GMP)Safdar's lawyer, Redmond Traynor, said he 'cannot explain' why he decided to drive at such speeds on the night, and that he is otherwise a 'hard-working' man and the main breadwinner for his family.
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Sentencing Safdar, Judge Nicholas Dean KC said: “You know what you have done, you have expressed remorse for it. It may be very difficult indeed for Jonathan Langston's family to accept that you have expressed remorse, and hard for them to accept that is something I must take into account, but I must, and I will.
“You drove at extraordinary speeds, described by the police to the family of Jonathan Langston as motorway speeds, but they would be excessive speeds for the motorway. What possessed you to do what you did is hard to fathom.”
Safdar's sentence was reduced for his remorse and 'good character', but he was banned from driving for 10 years and four months.
After the sentencing, Mr Langston's family said: “Whilst the day itself has provided some closure to our family, we can't help but feel disappointed and let down by the shortness of the sentence.
“Although it is true that no time spent would be long enough, it was shocking to hear that the driver would only spend just over five years in prison for his horrific actions. As a family we will now try and move on together, living in his memory.”
Detective Constable Sarah Seddon, from GMP's Serious Collison Investigation Unit, said: “Firstly I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jonathan Langston.
“Not only did Adeel overtake another vehicle in a lane that was supposed to be a right hand only turn, he continued to increase his speed following this manoeuvre, reaching over three times the posted speed limit and subsequently colliding with Mr Langston, who was on his way home after having some drinks with friends earlier in the evening.
“Hopefully this sentence can form as some sort of closure to the victim's family and Safdar can reflect on his actions.”
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