KATE Wasyluk's father, Leon, told how the crash had torn his life apart.

KATE Wasyluk's father, Leon, told how the crash had torn his life apart.

In his victim statement, he talked about how he split up from his wife, Dot, when their children Remy was nine, and Kate was seven. Dot, or Dorothy, later remarried.

He left the family home and described it as a difficult time for himself and his children.

He said: “I remember Kate coming home from school, not long after we had split up, saying to me “not to worry dad, a lot of my friends are from broken homes.” By this I think Kate felt that life wasn't so bad after all.

“From this time on, even at nine, Remy had assumed the role as head of the household. He looked after Kate, both at home and at school.

“My solicitor at the time had advised me that it was important to give the children stability and that seeing them on the same day each week would be important. I therefore made Wednesday evenings that day. In addition, they came to stay at weekends.

“When Remy went off to university, Kate and I continued with the Wednesday evenings. Kate was older now, swimming was out and we would either have a meal or go over to Kesgrave to see her granddad.

“With both Remy and Kate, my relationship with them was that of a friend rather than a pure fatherly one. Not only did we see each other regularly, we also kept in contact by phone.

“Both of them used me as their sounding board as well as asking advice on all manner of things. I have always been there for them, helped and guided them through their formative years. I am extremely proud of the way they both developed into caring, thoughtful and polite adults.

“Those Wednesdays continued right up to the week of Kate's death.”

Mr Wasyluk talked about how isolated he has felt from his wife Trish since Kate's death.

He said: “My life will never be the same. Yes, I still have a loving and supporting family and am as close to Remy as I have always been, but somehow there is a dark void in my life which I have not come to terms with. Wednesdays will never be the same. I find it difficult to go and see my father (Kate's granddad) on an evening and now prefer to keep in touch by phone.

“I have a responsible job running three companies with over 100 employees who rely on me and whose jobs are dependant upon the continued success of those companies. However, since this tragedy, I have not been able to give it my full commitment.

“Kate and Emma's lives have been taken away by a young man who is clearly a consistent danger to society. I hope that the legal system never gives him the opportunity to strike again and cause so much grief to others as we are suffering and will continue to do so, for the rest of our lives.”