Walsall driver who caused death of friend after speeding and ignoring signs on Black Country route avoids jail

Front seat passenger Aranpreet Singh, who was 27, was cut out of the car by firefighters but was pronounced dead at the scene.

Callear himself sustained catastrophic injuries including long term damage to his lungs, eye socket and brain function.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday he was jailed for eight months suspended for 12 after earlier admitting causing death by careless driving.

He had pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and no prosecution evidence was offered on that charge.

The court heard the two best friends were in the BMW M5 driving on the Birmingham New Road on the evening of November 1, 2021.

Callear turned the car onto the A463 Black Country Route near Bilston but lost control and crashed into the central reservation.

He was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital trauma unit where he remained in critical condition for several weeks and sustained 'life changing injuries.'

An eye witness account of someone who saw the BMW shortly before it crashed was read out to the court.

The witness estimated the car was travelling at 60-70mph in a 50mph zone and had trouble negotiating a roundabout

A statement from a police officer who investigated the incident confirmed the car's speed was above 50mph in good and dry conditions and that on examination of the car, it was found to have given the driver a number of warning signs on its display.

Members of Mr Singh's family were in court to see Callear sentenced and were visibly emotional throughout the case.

Three victim impact statements were read out to the court one from Mr Singh's mother describing him as 'the glue that kept the family together' and another from his girlfriend of over 10 years who said 'her world had stopped the day he died.'

Aneurin Brewer, defending Callear said; "He has shown genuine remorse and has said a number of times if he could change places with his friend he would.

"The crash seriously impacted his own life to the extent he is not capable of living independently and running his business the way he did before it.

"He has had to live with the guilt for four years and what he has done every day."

Judge Talog Davies, sentencing Callear said: "There is no sentence I could pass that would do justice .

"We will never know what caused  to lose control of the vehicle although we have heard a combination of speeding and ignoring the vehicle warning signals may have contributed.

"But you have suffered traumatic injuries yourself, have a  previous good record and have shown genuine remorse so I am minded to suspend the sentence."

Callear, aged 45, of Birmingham New Road, Walsall was disqualified from driving for 12 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge and 35 days of rehabilitation requirement.