Father of tragic Pontypool crash teen tells of his devastation at the 'wrong decisions' that led to her death

Robert Smith’s 16-year-old daughter Courtney and her boyfriend Thomas Lawrence, 21, of Caerleon, both died from injuries sustained after a crash in Caerleon on February 24.

An inquest into the incident heard on Tuesday that Mr Lawrence lost control of his car on Belmont Hill and ploughed into woodland near the King’s Head Pub.

The couple were returning from a 21st birthday of Mr Lawrence’s friend, Jack Payne, at the Two Rivers pub in Chepstow.

Mr Lawrence’s blood alcohol level was recorded as 114mg per 100ml of blood, with the legal limit being 80mg per 100ml, and toxicology reports suggested recent use of cannabis.

Evidence confirmed that both the driver and passenger were not wearing seatbelts.

Reacting to the verdict, Mr Smith said he knew that the “verdict wasn’t going to be good” but admitted “he could take closure from it”.

Mr Smith said: “It has been suggested that Courtney and Tom were cruising.”

He added that this was an individual mistake and should not be attributed to all car enthusiasts who drive around in large groups.

“Tom made the wrong decision and has paid the ultimate price and I’m devastated that my daughter had to pay the ultimate price too,” he added.

Former West Monmouth Comprehensive and Pontypool College student Miss Smith previously worked at an insurance firm in Newport before the crash.

Her mother, Tania Wallace, said in a written statement: “Courtney loved cars and [...] Tom had so much respect for Courtney. When I met him he was a lovely man.”

Mr Lawrence was a machine operator at Aberdare-based civil engineering company Rapidgrid Ltd.

A written tribute from step-father Geraint Bowen credited his love for the outdoor life and farm work.

Summing up at the inquest, Assistant Coroner Wendy James concluded that if the pair wore seatbelts “the chances of survival would have been increased.”

She recorded both deaths as “the result of a road traffic collision”.