Family of man killed by dangerous driver say punishment is 'insignificant' compared to 'sentence they're living'

35-year-old Jackson Paul jailed for six years

A warning that this story contains information which some readers may find distressing.

The family of an Onchan man who died after falling from the bonnet of a moving car say any punishment handed down to the driver is ‘insignificant’ compared to the ‘sentence they are living’.

Jordan Thomas suffered significant head injuries in an incident on Harbour Road on 25 February last year.

The 29-year-old had climbed onto the front of Jackson Joseph Paul’s BMW as he was attempting to drive past him at around 7.45pm.

He proceeded to damage the windscreen wipers before punching the windscreen of the vehicle.

Video footage, filmed by the front-seat-passenger, showed 35-year-old Paul initially reversing before driving forwards with Mr Thomas on the bonnet at a speed in excess of 30 miles-per-hour.

He fell backwards into the road when Paul subsequently braked sharply.

Paul, of Palace Road, had denied causing death by dangerous driving but was convicted after a trial which concluded on 14 February.

‘Numb’

At Douglas Courthouse today (24 February) a victim impact statement, written by Mr Thomas’ mother, was read to the court.

Describing her son as having a ‘massive heart’ and ‘huge energy’ she said the grief caused by his death had ‘struck down a whole family’.  

Referencing the trial in which Paul was found guilty she added: “Our trial is every day for the rest of our lives. The joy he (Jordan) brought us is no more.”

“How do you know how you feel when you are too numb to feel anything?” – Savina Thomas (Mother)

‘Tragedy’

Paul’s advocate told the court his client had found himself in a ‘terrifying situation’ on the night in question adding it would have been a ‘very difficult set of circumstances for any motorist’.

He said the decisions the defendant went on to make had been made in the ‘blink of an eye’ adding Paul was a ‘good person’ who had not set out with any intention to cause harm.

Referencing Paul’s decision to drive forwards for five seconds – which it was claimed had been unintentional – he added: “He made mistakes and those mistakes have ended in tragedy.”

“The sad reality is that this is a tragedy for everyone.” Steve Wood (Advocate)

‘Deeply Upsetting’

Deemster Graeme Cook described Paul’s initial decision to reverse his vehicle as ‘reasonable’ but said he’d then made a ‘deliberate decision’ to ignore the rules of the road and drive forward.

This, whilst Mr Thomas was still on the bonnet, he said showed a disregard for the danger posed to others, adding: “This was a most obvious case of dangerous driving.”

Deemster Cook described Mr Thomas’ behaviour on the night as ‘unusual’ and something that had ‘contributed significantly’ to his death.

“Had he not got on the bonnet, the tragedy would not have occurred. It’s something I find deeply upsetting,” the deemster added saying one man had lost his life and another was going to ‘lose years’ of his.

Jailing Paul for six years he said he’d completed a ‘highly dangerous manoeuvre’ adding: “No sentence that I pass can ever value Jordan Thomas’ life.

“Any sentence, nor indeed the sympathy which the court expresses to his family, can diminish their profound loss or anguish.”

Paul has also been disqualified from driving for eight years.