This is a true story, of how cruel life can be, a tragedy that led to devastation and pain,
This is their story, 2 lives taken before their time in horrific circumstances, a daughter who never got to meet her father.
This is my story, an empty void that grows as each day passes.
This is a love story, that brings hope and strength to those suffering.
This is history, time for changes to outdated laws, time for people to come together to Fix Our Broken Justice System.

Saturday the 13th of May 2023.

I will never forget the day my life was flipped upside down, a family shattered into pieces a future that collided with fate and crushed as my word came crashing down.
How I wish things could have been different. Franki Julia Hough my Love, my Soulmate, my Peace, was tragically taken from this world on Monday 15th May 2023, after spending 2 days on life support carrying our unborn daughter Neeve with her. Franki suffered fatal brain injuries after a collision on the motorway. Franki had pulled over on the hard shoulder of the M66 due to a punctured trye. Neeve our daughter was too young to sustain her own life without her mother.
They are the victims of a killer driver.
Victims of reckless and dangerous driving,
Victims of a growing problem in our society.

This is Franki and Neeves Story
This is your Story
This is our story

Frankie

Frankie Julia Hough born 2nd August 1984 got her name from her mother Julia and Father Frank. Together they nurtured the most amazing, kind, caring and dignified woman. Forged with the spirits of her Irish and Portuguese ancestors Franki was a fighter. Her introduction into the world comes with a sad sense of irony as it is the same way she left us. In a hospital bed invaded with tubes and strapped up to monitors, sounding their monotonous beeping and unforgiving repetitive tone. Each beep was like the like the sound of a dripping a tap. Beep, Beep, Beep, her life slowly dripped away. Franki made it through her first encounter with Fate an unwelcome introduction to life and death. The world had plans for her it needed Franki to go and sprinkle her fairy dust. To shine her light on those suffering in the darkness. To show us how to be all you can be.

Life is a stage

Talent in abundance Franki was talented musician actress, singer and in her words, I was good at cross-country long-distance running. This was never proven. Sport was not of much interest to her growing up. As a child Franki was busy auditioning for TV shows acting in plays and making a name for herself in the world of performing arts. Unique and never afraid to be different or stand out from the crowd her Character took shape as she navigated her way through the jungle of school life. She had developed a strong sense of self and was never afraid to express that. This was expressed in the way she dressed, the music she listened too and more importantly the people she associated with. Always looking out for the underdog, advocating for those who dared to be different and rising above intolerant attitudes and abusers of power. Franki was very popular due to her kind caring nature.

Lionheart

Blessed with a natural organic beauty. People would be mezmerized by the most Hypnotic blue eyes that sparkled brighter than all the stars in the night’s skies. The most Enchanting warm smile that would glow and light up a room with the radiance of the summer sun. A Goddess living amongst men a living angel. Dignified graceful and majestic in her approach to life’s hardships. The trials and tribulations of life, Franki had to face like so many of us. She always did this with dignity and grace. One of the most defining parts of Franki’s character was her Lionheart and the way she cared for and helped others when they were at their worst times. A Campaigners for Women’s Aid and getting consent laws changed. Franki supported women and children’s survivors of domestic abuse and violence. I will continue this work in Franki and Neeves name and am in the process of setting up the Franki and Neeve Purple heart foundation a charitable trust for services for set up to support women and children’s survivors of domestic abuse and violence. When all hope seemed to be lost. Franki would pick people up off the ground, by giving them hope and making them feel special and loved. By helping them find their strength to keep fighting, keep moving forward and to keep smiling. By helping people to be the best version of themselves.

How we met

People would often ask us how did we meet? Whenever we were asked this question, we would look at each gleefully as we reminisced about our first meeting. Our life’s first crossed paths when we were in secondary school. Franki was the year below me. I don’t recall Franki in school, but she said she remembered me. I liked to tease her about how she has fancied me all these years. My first memory of Franki is when she appeared in holly Oaks. I was in sixth form college at the time, and everybody was talking about the girl from Hollyoaks who was joining our college. The image I had of Franki was her wearing a hat and a leather jacket. She had the rock chick slightly alternative look about her. She wasn’t at college for a long time as she left to chase her dreams. 30 years later and a global pandemic brought us together.

Calm Holistic Living

During those uncertain time we started talking on social media Facebook to be exact. I remember the interaction started by liking and commenting on each other’s post that we were sharing. We had similar views on was going on in the world. Franki had her own business. Calm Holistic Living. She was very successful in what she did. She would go the extra mile and customer satisfaction was very important to her. Being Franki her business covered many things. Such as a cleaning service using non-toxic cleaning products which she sourced locally and made herself, she would go that extra mile to make her clients feel special by leaving notes and gifts. I like to think of her taking such pride in her cleaning and sprinkling her her fairy dust and so that their homes were blessed with a calm healing energy. Franki was also a Reiki therapist. People often commented that they felt so much better after having Reiki with Franki. The atmosphere she created was one of love and serenity.

A Date with Fate

Frankie made her own organic and ethically produced products. I was really impressed and decided to treat myself to one of the healing boxes she made. It contained crystals, some handmade soy wax melts, some sage, and lavender and some positive affirmation cards. I still have the box to this day. Much to my surprise Frankie hand delivered her healing boxes. I can picture her now. It was a sunny day. She had a black vest top on and denim shorts. Wearing sunglasses that I liked to call her Hollywood ones. I was in awe of her beauty her smile. I could feel myself getting nervous trying to
keep cool. Her youngest son was with her, he was a baby at the time. She handed me the healing box and we spoke for a bit. When she went, I remember thinking I need to see her again. I gave it a few hours before I messaged her asked if she wanted to meet up and go for a walk at Dovestones Reservoir. Franki said yes and the rest is history. We both spoke about how we felt the chemistry and spark between us the day. It was our favourite conversation. A beautiful memory. It was love at first sight.

Mother Earth

Nothing made her smile more than being a devoted mother to her boys. When I met Franki she had two sons. It was clear that her prioritise in life was now being the best mother she could be. Both boys are testament to how they had been nurtured and cared for by a great mum. A mother who gave her everything and her life to them up until her final breath. We spoke about having our own child one day and decided to let fate take its course. I am sole carer for my nephew who has autism. Franki treated him like he was one her own. He loved her, the way she understood him and gave him her warm smile. We had a challenge on our hands merging our families into one big happy family. We often laughed at the challenges we had to face but knew we could get though anything together. After our first family holiday in Wales. We saw how it could work and the strength of our family bond. All that was missing was our own child and finding our family home. On the 26th of January this year the week after I had turned 40, I found out I was going to be a dad that me and Franki would be having a child together. This was the best birthday present I could ever wish for.

Neeve

The week before Franki was killed we had organised a gender reveal and invited our closest friends and family to come and celebrate with us. We were expecting our first child and wanted to share our special moment. Franki already had 2 sons and was hoping that we would be having a girl. When she found out, she was having a daughter she was over the moon with joy. Feeling blessed that she was getting the opportunity to be a mother to our daughter. Our life was almost complete. This was one of the happiest proudest days of my life. I was living it with the woman I loved. The woman who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Franki my Soulmate, My Peace, My Queen. We couldn’t wait to meet our Princess. All our focus was going into finding our family home and planning our future.
The day before the incident we had the perfect evening together. I cooked us a nice meal and we stayed up taking late. We spoke about our future and choosing a name for our daughter. The name we picked was Neeve. Frankie didn’t want it spelt the Irish way ‘Niamh’ as she didn’t want people to pronounce our daughters name incorrectly.

Celebration of Life

On the day of the fatal collision Franki was driving back from Bury Arcade Club with her eldest son 9 years old her youngest son 4 years, and Nephew 2 years old. It was my brother’s birthday earlier in the week and we had planned a day at the Arcade club. Franki didn’t want to join us as gaming was not her thing. Although she used to play Fifa with her eldest son and would be so chuffed with herself when she scored a goal. Her eldest son joined me, my brother, his friend and my 2 cousins. My last moments with Franki that day I gave her a kiss, said goodbye, and told her that I loved her like I always did and off she went. 20 minutes later I received a phone call that would change the course of our life’s forever.

Saturday 13th May 2023

On Saturday the 13th of May 2023, I received a phone call from a number I didn’t recognise, when I answered it was a lady voice, it was Franki eldest sons Dads partner. I was confused as to why she would be ringing me as I had never spoken to her before. I could sense panic in her voice. She told me that Franki and the boys have been in been in a crash on the motorway and that they were all breathing but unconscious. My heart sank and the first thing I thought was she is going to lose the baby. At that point I knew I had to get to them, a feeling of dread took over me. The crash happened about 10 minutes away from where I was. I told my cousin and brother that I need to get to Franki, and I left.

I set off not knowing what horrors could be awaiting me. I felt sick, angry, anxious, fearing the worse, praying for a miracle. I made my way to the crash scene. The motorway was busy, and traffic was at a standstill, so I travelled down the hard shoulder until I got to a point which I thought was the crash scene. Police cars was at the front of the traffic. I pulled up and a Police officer approached me., I frantically and desperately told him I am the partner of the lady in the crash and that I need t get to her. I couldn’t see any crashed cars and realised that they incident was further down the motorway. The police office told me that I cannot go any further and to get out of my car. I only had one thing on my mind and that was to get to Franki and Neeve. I said sorry I can’t and drove on. Further along the motorway I could see emergency vehicles at the back of stopped traffic. I drove up to the traffic and got out of my car. I had to run through about 10 lines of cars until I arrived at the crash site. which can only be is best described as a scene form a horror movie.

My Worst Nightmare

I remember emergency services and people everywhere it was chaos. I could see Frankie cars mangled but not her. I couldn’t imagine how anybody could come out of that wreckage alive. The reality started to hit home how serious this was. The first person I saw was her eldest son unconscious on the floor. His Dad approached me I asked him where is Franki? what’s happened? he tried to get me to stop and talk to him and calm me down but I needed to find her. Then I saw Franki my Queen, my life, my whole world unconscious, her body was moving because with the shock of the trauma. She had blood coming out of her mouth and running down her head. I went to her and held her hand and told her she was going to be ok. I was angry and in disbelief. Who has done this to us? how could this be happening? Why now? How can life be so cruel?

Emergency services asked me to move away and was trying to comfort me, but I had to be near her and my baby. I asked if the baby is going to be ok. They said they do not know yet. I was angry I wanted answers, and nobody had them. Then I saw her nephew who was also unconscious with emergency teams attending to him. Finally, I saw her youngest son in the arms of a lady. He was conscious looking confused and vacant. He came into my arms, and I held him close to me and tried to give him as much comfort as possible. It was also comforting for me. I held him in my arms for over 2 hours. It felt like an eternity. It didn’t feel real it was like an outer body experience. Watching as people tried to fix and put the pieces of our life back together.

The impact

As time passed the severity of Frankies injuries became clear. The paramedics told me that Franki had to be treated at roadside before she could be taken to hospital, as she had suffered severe head and brain trauma injuries. They told me that the pressure in her brain is increasing and that they need to release it. To do this they had to make a slit at that side of her eyes and put a tube in her throat. I stood there watching all of this shielding her son. I didn’t want him to see his mother looking like this. Whilst they were attending to Franki they had emergency teams attending to the boys. They were all put into induced comas and taken to Manchester Childrens hospital. Frani was airlifted to Preston infirmary. I wanted to be by her side and was taken to the hospital with her youngest son. When I arrived, I was told that Franki is in theatre having brain surgery and that’s she might not make it through the procedure. Her Dad was there and his partner. Whilst Franki was ins surgery her youngest child was examined and amazingly only had some minor injuries scratches and bruising. The wounds that he has couldn’t be seen by the eyes. The trauma of losing his mother at 2 years old is devastating.

Praying for a Miracle

Franki did make it through the procedure and was taken into critical care and put on life support. The surgeon came and spoke to me and her father. They told us told that the injuries Franki had sustained had caused permanent brain damage and that she would not have any of her capacities if she pulled through. They also informed us that she wouldn’t be able to manage her functions because of the severity of the injuries caused by the collision. We were told that Franki could pass in the next 5 mins half an hour or day and that the extent of the damage means she won’t be able to keep herself alive without life support. As part of procedure, they keep the patient on life support for 72 hours and after that period that life support is switched off and it up to the patient to breathe for themselves. They prepared us for the worse and was clear saying that thy think she will die once the life support switched off. And that her injuries are so severe that they did not think she would be able to pull through.

Me and her father stayed by her bedside that first night praying for a miracle. Franki stayed in critical care for two days with her family by her side until her final breath. Neeve’s heart was still beating strong throughout the nurses let us listen to it which was heartbreaking. Knowing that she couldn’t carry on without her mum. We were asked if Franki could breather and keep herself alive without support would they want us to try and get Neeve old enough to be delivered. The answer was yes. Any piece of Frankie would have been something to cherish. It became apparent that this wasn’t going to happen. We watched Franki slowly deteriorate. Feeling hopeless and powerless as we witnessed life leaving her with each moment that passed by.

Franki’s and Neeves last Hours

Even in her death she comforted her family by giving us the opportunity to say goodbye. We all spent some time with Franki and Neeve on our own. I played some of our favourite songs. My emotions flooded out as the reality of what was happening hit me. My life, my world my peace was ending. In the early hours of Monday morning on the 15th May Franki took her last breath. Neeve was too young to make it without the love and support of her mother. She had somehow survived the crash but couldn’t survive without her mother’s Love.

Bitter Sweet

After Frankie and Neeve Passed all our thoughts and attentions went to praying that the boys come through. It was the only outcome that could reduce the devastation of this tragedy. The boys were in induced comas for two weeks. Thankfully Both boys did gain consciousness. It truly is a miracle and blessings that we are all grateful for. The boys now must come to terms with losing their mother and auntie. The effects of that day will stay with them for the rest of their life’s. I can’t even begin to imagine how they must be feeling. They are on a long road to recovery, but their wounds will never heal. Nothing will replace what they have lost.

Police Investigations

I didn’t find out many details of the crash until a few days after. I was told that Franki had pulled over on the hard shoulder and a car had collided with her. The police then updated us those witnesses had said that the driver had been driving Recklessly and dangerously at excessive speeds. He was arrested at the scene and later released on bail much to my shock and dismay. A week later the police found evidence on his phone of him filming himself driving just before the collision. He was then held on remand until sentencing.

Sentencing Day

I will never forget the emotions and feeling of Dread I had waiting for sentencing. I was devastated when I found out that this was all caused by one person’s total disregard for the safety of others and because of an attitude where he thinks he is above the law. I was outraged and saddened. My life and so many others turned upside down because somebody wanted to show off, brag, boost and feed their own ego. This made the tragedy more devastating. The way he drove that day was described as an accident waiting to happen. It was no accident it was crime. A crime that could have been prevented and that needs a strong deterrent, so that it doesn’t happen again. Or at the very least to make people think twice before they use our roads as racetracks, endangering children and families lives for their own amusement.

Life sentence

The law around sentencing for death by dangerous driving has changed recently. The courts have been given the powers to handout life sentences for death caused by dangerous driving. This made me optimistic that this crime wouldn’t go unpunished and that there could be some form of justice for Franki and Neeve. It wasn’t about punishing the perpetrator. It was a chance to send out a strong message that life is precious and that death by dangerous driving is taken seriously. That grieving families will get justice. The message should be loud and clear. If you choose to put other lives at risk and ultimately take somebody’s life in because of driving dangerously. There shouldn’t be any grey areas it should be black and white, so that the perpetrators know they will be getting a life sentence for the crime.

Broken Justice System

Sadly, this didn’t happen the driver got 12 years in prison and 13 years driving ban. He was only charged for 1 account of death by dangerous driving not 2. Neeve was not recognised as baby until she was under 24 weeks old. My child did not exist in the eyes of the law. And the effect of me losing the opportunity to be a father was not acknowledged how it should be. 12 years for taking 2 lives. Leaving 2 sons without a mother. Destroying a family. Leaving 2 young boys with life changing injuries destroying, hopes and dreams. Taking away my chance to be a father a husband. The loss is unbearable. The devastation is too much to even digest. Layers and layers of trauma. And that is only worth 12 years in the eyes of the law. We have been given a life sentence that only few people will have experienced. What will it take for somebody to be given a life sentence for causing death by dangerous driving?

Fight for Justice

I am determined to fight for justice for my partner and daughter and for all the other families that are being let down daily by a broken justice system. The sentence has been appealed on the grounds that it was unduly lenient. The impact and devastation caused is overwhelming. Caused by the selfish actions of somebody who has no regards to the law or the safety of others. Why wasn’t he banned from driving for life? Driving should be seen as a privilege not a right. The way he put so many lives at risk and the devastation caused surely is enough to say you have lost the right / privilege of driving.

Frankies Killer was filming himself driving at excessively high speeds. He was also filming himself at one point driving at 129mph whilst holding his phone in his hand and the steering wheel in the other. Dash cam footage showed that he had been putting other drivers lives at risk leading up to the fatal collision for at least 10 mins before the incident. Footage showed him tailgating, driving aggressively, undertaking weaving in and out of traffic and as described by 1 witness an accident waiting to happen.

Mitigating Factors

The mitigating factors that his defence used in no way do they justify or lessen the impact of his reckless actions. According to his defence he has shown remorse. Remorse? I haven’t felt or seen any remorse from the driver. He could have reached out to the family and expressed his remorse. That would mean something to myself and Franki’s Family. That is the actions of a decent person. His age was also a factor.? Twenty-two years old is old enough to know right from wrong. Would a murderer be shown the same leniency?
It was also mentioned that he had no previous criminal convictions. However, he was banned for driving for two years for driving without insurance. He also got stopped by the police a few months before the incident for speeding and racing against another motorists. However, he was not charged by the Police for this and got away with it. In my eyes there are no mitigating circumstances that warrant leniency in this case or cases like this. The devastation and the impact of this incident outweighs any mitigating circumstances. The way he was driving shows what type of attitude he has towards the law and the safety of others. That selfish attitude is what caused him to drive the way he did and take the lives of two innocent people a mother and her unborn child.

Legal help

I was made aware of Road peace by my legal claim’s solicitor Polly Herbert who works at Fletchers Solicitors. At the time of meeting, I was informed that I do not have any legal rights or recognition as Frankie’s Partner, and that Neeve is not recognised as child due to her not being born. This means that I will struggle to get any civil justice. As opposed to if we were a married couple. I didn’t fully understand the implications, but I felt them. I felt devalued and isolated during the case and leading up to sentencing.

Road Peace

I was told that road peace support families who have suffered death and serious injuries because of road traffic collisions and that they have supported families in appealing against sentences, campaigning for law changes and raising awareness of road crime. I have a strong desire to use my story and tragedy. I was told that road peace would be able to support me with my fight to get justice and raise awareness and campaign for change. I was introduced to Rebecca Morris Head of communications at Road Peace. Her passion and desire to support families and to raise awareness about Road crime and campaign for change was very evident. Road Peace and Hugh James Law firm have helped me to share my story through the media.

Fix our broken Justice System

Since my involvement with Road Peace, I realised that this is happening every day. Nobody should have to suffer like this. Driven by grief and a desire to prevent other families from experiencing the devastation and heartache that I have suffered. I have teamed up with Road Peace who have launched the #FixOurBrokenJusticeSystem working alongside three other families, who have lost family members and loved ones at the hands of killer drivers. We want to Fix our Broken Justice system starting with campaigning for longer sentences for death caused by Dangerous driving.
Something needs to be done now. Too many lives are being lost. Roughly 5 lives are lost in Britain a day on our roads. People our losing their lives at the hands of dangerous, reckless, and careless individuals. People are not respecting or adhering to the law and are getting away with murder. How can it be so easily dismissed that people our being killed? What makes this tragedy worse is the lack of justice. The people who are causing this devastation are getting away with it. Why is Road crime or killing somebody not taken serious like other crimes? How is it justifiable to give short prison sentences and driving bans.? Why aren’t the perpetrators of Road rimes such as speeding, drug and alcohol driving, reckless and dangerous driving given longer sentences and longer driving bans? There is no deterrent for those who don’t have a sense of moral responsibility or care for others. If somebody chooses to endanger your life and as a direct result of their behaviours, they kill and ruin lives beyond repair. They should face the toughest sentences possible.

Our Story

The devastation that Frankie and Neeves story highlights, is that Our justice system is broken and needs fixing. Most people you speak to today have experienced dangerous, and reckless drivers on British Roads. They are an increasing threat to the safety of innocent people’s lives. We see it daily. There needs to be a strong deterrent and more work and needs to be done at a national and Government level, to change attitudes towards Road Crime. I want to educate young people on Road safety and Road Crime so that they understand and know the importance of being a safe driver and how to keep themselves and others safe. Improving young people’s attitudes towards their safety and others is vital. A focus needs to be placed on having respect for others and empathy so they can understand the impact and devastation. Installing good Morals so that they adhere to the law and encouraging them be more responsible adults. I hope that I can shine some light on Road Crime and bring it to people’s attention. Death and life changing injuries caused by Dangerous driving is a growing issue.
We need to, Fix our Broken Justice System.
We can, Make our roads safer.
We will, Write a new chapter for future generations.

This is Frankie and Neeves story,
This is your story,
This is our Story.