A drug and drink driver who drove “straight through” a cyclist and killed him has been sentenced to seven years at a young offenders’ institution. Teddy Picton, 20, had cocaine and alcohol in his blood from the previous night when he hit Brad Craven, 72, head on, causing him to “summersault” into the air.
Craven, who had been wearing a fluorescent orange high-visibility jacket, died five weeks later, missing his own wife’s funeral. Picton, of Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, is the son of businessman and hairdresser Ken Picton.
Cardiff Crown Court was told he was distracted by his female passenger who was trying to kiss him and grab his leg just before the crash in Cardiff on 17 May 2025. Craven, from Cardiff, who was described as a “gentle, caring, thoughtful man”, was on a regular ride with his brother when he was hit. The retired social worker was “there to be seen”, said prosecutor Daniel Jones.
Driving without a licence or insurance
Picton had failed his driving test shortly before the crash and was also not insured to drive the blue Fiat 500. But he drove in the opposite direction “on the wrong side of the road” to Craven and did not navigate the bend in front of him.
Picton told police he was driving because his female passenger, who owned the car, was too “intoxicated”. The judge said Picton had been out drinking and taking cocaine the night before, which was “part of the work culture”. He “drove straight through” Craven, who fractured his skull, and made “no attempt to brake”.
The victim’s brother
The court was told Phillip Craven eventually caught up with his brother to find him lying on the pavement, “gasping and choking on his own blood”. Phillip Craven, who has since died, had prepared a victim impact statement, which was read to the court.
It read: “I felt him die there that morning.
“Brad was not just my brother, he was my best friend.
“I cannot get the image of Brad lying there on the pavement out of my head — it haunts me.”
He added: “This was no accident, this young man chose to drive this car without a licence.
“He knew he had been drinking the night before and he had taken cocaine, and he still chose to drive.
“They stood and gawped at my brother while he lay dying.”
Sentencing
Judge Paul Hobson said Picton knew he “should not have been driving”. Picton will serve two-thirds of his sentence in custody before being released on licence. However, the judge said that, due to changes in the law about to come into effect, that could be reduced to half. Picton was also disqualified from driving for nine years and eight months.
Jurisdictional note: This case was heard in Wales. The offences of causing death by dangerous driving and drink and drug driving apply on the same statutory basis across England and Wales, and the case was dealt with in the Crown Court in the same way as it would be in England.
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
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