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156 
leep disorder driver as sentence reduced
Page 9
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Muck driver who killed an engaged couple he fell asleep at the wheel has won a reducihis eight-year prison sentence.
January Maidstone Crown Court sentenced Illouldridge to eight years for causing the $ of Stephen Williams and Shiela Ryan by mous driving (CM 24-30 Jan). it last week three Appeal judges found that the 44)Id's sentence was "maniexcessive". They cut it to six and quashed a life-time drian, even though doctors had xi Couldridge not to drive, iuldridge feel asleep at the I of his artic on the M20 in imber last year. It ploughed gh the central reservation ;aided with BMW car, killing ccupa.nts instantly Maidstone Court heard that two doc tors had warned Couldriclge that he could be suffering from sleep apnoea which could cause him to nod off at any time.
However, Judge Peter Fox QC said that as Couldridge's not guilty plea was the only aggravating feature, the eight-year sentence was too close to the 10-year maximum.
Speaking of the families of Williams and Ryan, Fox added: "Words, any words this court says are inadequate to describe their loss."
But the families of the dead couple blasted the judges' decision. "I'm fuming," said Williams' father: "This is like a murder. He knew he shouldn't be driving but he got behind the wheel of that lorry, he fell asleep and he killed." He says he plans to take the case further.