A FAMILY'S heartbreak was laid bare after a man admitting killing two women and nearly taking the life of another.

Colin Adwent

A FAMILY'S heartbreak was laid bare after a man admitting killing two women and nearly taking the life of another.

Scott Nicholls had consumed a cocktail of drink and drugs before the car he was driving ploughed into Emma Harold, Rebecca Harold and Kate Wasyluk in Foxhall Road, Ipswich.

Yesterday Nicholls pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to eight years' detention.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that in addition to being almost twice the drink-drive limit, the 20-year-old disqualified driver was travelling at 50mph in a 30mph zone at the time.

He had also taken his brother's car without consent just before the tragedy, which happened early on February 21 this year.

Emma Harold, 26, of Foxhall Road, and Miss Wasyluk, 25, of Irlam Road, Ipswich, were killed instantly as they walked home with Rebecca, 25, who sustained life-threatening injuries she is still struggling to overcome.

The court heard part of a victim impact statement, dated March 16, by Glen Harold, father of Emma.

Mr Harold had dropped off the three girls that evening at St Clement's Hospital Social Club and kissed Emma and Rebecca goodbye.

He said: “I will never forget being woken in the early hours of that morning by three police officers. What followed is something a father never should have to do, go to the hospital and identify his daughter to the police.

“As a result of one man's reckless and selfish actions, I have lost a daughter and Rebecca is still seriously ill in hospital.

“It has had a devastating effect on me and the whole family. I can describe it as a stone being thrown into a calm pond - the ripples of sadness have reached far and wide.

“Nicholls is beneath our contempt and he has destroyed our family by his selfish acts.”

Prosecutor Godfried Duah told the court Nicholls had been at a child's seventh birthday party in Lindbergh Road, Ipswich, on February 20.

His brother, Tom Laws, was also there and had given his car keys to the child's mother for safekeeping. Despite drinking alcohol Nicholls, formerly of West Villa, Ipswich, got the keys and took his brother's Citroen Saxo.

He went to Bull Road where he persuaded a girl, Bianca Cloud, to get in the car.

Another motorist, Daniel Moy, recalled the Saxo revving its engine behind him in Foxhall Road. It then sped past him “in a blur”.

Mr Duah said Mr Moy told police the Saxo suddenly veered across the road, clipped the kerb and collided with a garden wall.

He described the aftermath as “something which looked like a bomb going off”.

Mr Duah said Nicholls had 156 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood after the crash. The legal limit is 80 mlgs of alcohol.

Four psychiatrists provided the court with reports stating Nicholls had mental health issues. He will initially be detained for treatment at a mental institution. When well enough, Nicholls will serve the balance of his sentence in prison.

Nicholls, who has previous convictions, was also given a three-month concurrent sentence for driving while disqualified.

Following the hearing the families said they were angry Judge Thompson was unable to give Nicholls a longer sentence.

Speaking on their behalf, Sergeant Bob Patterson, of Suffolk Police's serious collision investigation team, said: “The families will always be unhappy in relation to it.”