On Monday 6th May, Channel 5 aired a powerful documentary called You Be the Judge: Crime & Punishment. The programme explored whether the British public believes that our criminal justice system delivers fair sentences — by giving viewers the chance to decide what punishment they would hand down in real-life cases, before comparing it with the actual court decisions.
One of the cases featured in the documentary was our story — the heartbreaking events that led to the deaths of our beloved Frankie and our unborn daughter Neeve and left two other family members with life-changing injuries. Having to relive that day and speak so openly about the impact it’s had was incredibly emotional but worthwhile to highlight some of the issue that are faced through criminal prosecutions.

The driver responsible was travelling over 100mph on the motorway and filming himself at the time of the crash. Despite the recklessness of his actions, the sentence he received was far less than most people — including the programme’s various judging panels — believed was appropriate. It’s a stark reminder of how road crimes are often treated with shocking leniency, even when the consequences are devastating and permanent.

At Frankie and Neeve’s Road Safety Academy, we exist because of what happened. Our mission is to stop other families from ever having to endure what we’ve been through. We do this by educating young people about road safety and the real-life impact that dangerous driving can have. Programmes like You Be the Judge help people to understand that behind every statistic is a grieving family, a shattered future, and a ripple effect that never truly ends.

If you haven’t seen the documentary yet, we’d really encourage you to watch it. You can find it on catch-up here https://www.channel5.com/show/you-be-the-judge-crime-punishment. It’s difficult to watch at times — but so important.

We’re thankful to be able to share our story and for the work he continues to do in Frankie and Neeve’s name. And we’re thankful to everyone who supports our charity — whether through donations, education sessions, or simply by choosing to drive more safely.

This is why we exist. And this is why we won’t stop.