Van driver 'blamed toddler son for using phone' in crash that killed police officer

A dad who ploughed his white van into a police officer and killed her wrongly blamed his 13-month-old son for using his mobile phone, a court heard.

Simon Draper is accused of scrolling on Facebook while behind the wheel when he struck off-duty Sergeant Lynwen Thomas, 37, on her bike with his Ford Transit.

The carpenter denies holding his phone at the time, claiming he had given the device to his "cantankerous" son Ted in a bid to stop him from crying.

But experts said the youngster would not have the "dexterity" or the "mental capacity" to open and close apps at the time of the fatal crash.

Paediatrician Dr Mohammed Rahman said: "A child of that age would need both hands to hold the phone.

"He would not have the mental ability to specifically look for applications and launch them either intentionally or unintentionally.”

Draper, 42, is accused of using Facetime, WhatsApp, Apple Music, Instagram and Facebook Messenger as he drove while his son was sat in the back.

Jurors heard how the father-of-three switched from Instagram to Facebook at 6.42pm, just a minute before his van slammed into Lynwen on the A40, near St Clears, west Wales.

Prosecutor Carina Hughes said that by saying he gave the phone to Ted, Draper was "trying to place the blame on his young son".

She said: "He had his mobile phone with him, not just for a quick call, split second chat or message but for minute upon minute prior to the impact and changing from application to application.”

The hearing, being held at Swansea Civic Centre, was told Lynwen was travelling at around 17mph when she was struck on the dual-carriageway at dusk. She suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The jury was shown pictures of her bike with the back wheel completed destroyed and damage to the near side of Draper's van.

Ms Hughes said other drivers had been worried about Draper's driving, deciding to “draw back” when they saw him “veer into the middle of the lane”.

She says motorists saw Draper’s van “veer to the left” before Lynwen and her bike were “projected into the road”.

"Lynwen Thomas paid the ultimate price", Ms Hughes told jurors.

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Draper, of St Clears, denies causing death by dangerous driving but admits causing death by careless driving.

He told police his attention was distracted "for a split second" as he looked behind him to check on his "cantankerous" son.

In his statement, he said: "I looked back because he was crying. I looked back for a split second. I did not see her."

Lynwen was an experienced cyclist who had previously taken part in triathlons and a charity ride from John O'Groats to Lands End.

She worked as a heritage crime specialist at Dyfed Powys Police and was described as a "well-respected" officer.

The trial at Swansea Crown Court continues.