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Shorter term for crash driver

From the Echo, first published Saturday 10th Feb 2001.

A JUDGE has dramatically reduced the jail term of a German businessman who killed Daily Echo sports journalist Jon Andress after overtaking on a blind bend on the wrong side of the road.

Helmut Jordan was jailed for three years by Judge Graham Cottle at Exeter Crown Court two weeks ago after the 57-year-old driver admitted causing the death of 28-year-old Mr Andress by dangerous driving.

But yesterday the same judge re-sentenced Jordan to six months in prison which means he should be free to return to Germany in around 10 weeks' time.

Judge Cottle had originally described the fatal crash on the North Devon Link Road near Stoodleigh last June as a "dreadful, appalling piece of driving".

Mr Andress was returning from covering a golf tournament in North Devon when he died in the crash.

Jordan's solicitor, William Tate, said the judge yesterday stated there were no aggravating features adding that the likely explanation for the crash was that Jordan was distracted momentarily and forgot which side he should have been driving on.

Judge Cottle said no sentence would begin to compensate for the loss of a son but he accepted being overly influenced by the statement of Mr Andress' mother.

The court heard that there was exceptional mitigation available to the judge including Jordan's genuine remorse, his impeccable character, and the fact that his life was in pieces and he may never recover from the injuries he received in the crash.

Mr Tate said Jordan, who uses crutches to walk, was relieved at the reduction in his sentence but was finding jail extremely difficult because of his injuries and his lack of English.

He added that Jordan feared that without proper medical help he could end up permanently disabled.

Jon's mother Anne Andress said after hearing the news: "Nothing can compensate for the loss of Jon but he would have been the last person to seek vengeance.

"We do feel that a custodial sentence is fair in view of how dangerous Mr Jordan's driving was and the devastating affect it has had upon us all. But we accept that a shorter sentence from three years is appropriate in view of the defendant's circumstances."

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