Driver making 'emotional phone calls' on A34 admits killing Gavin Roberts

Stratford, known to Oxford United fans for becoming a ‘Twitter sensation’ during a solo 2,000-mile round trip to Austria to watch the team in 2015, appeared at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday on the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

It was revealed Stratford made a number of ‘emotional calls’ in the moments leading up to the crash near the Milton Interchange.

Within 34 minutes he had made three phone calls before losing control of his Vauxhall Corsa and crashing through the central reservation barrier into Mr Roberts' BMW.

Although Stratford admitted taking calls at the time of the crash, his barrister maintained his device was in a cradle attached to his dashboard at the time of the crash. 

Meg Williamson, Mr Roberts' girlfriend, launched a petition in the weeks following his death calling to reduce the speed limit from 70mph to 50mph and install speed cameras along the A34.

The English teacher, who lives in Swindon, described her partner as 'radiating energy' and was a 'wonderful person.'

Gaving Roberts and Meg Williamson enjoying a meal the Friday night before he died.

She said: "I want Gavin’s legacy to live on and to get justice for all of the other drives involved in incidents on the A34.

"He was just going to work, doing his job. You don’t expect them not to come back.
“Why people feel the need to go at such speeds down this road is mystifying because it is a narrow A-road, it is not a motorway."

Her petition has garnered more than 2,400 signatures, including Mr Roberts' brother Brendan Tuck.

Mr Tuck said: "The current steel median strips being used are not designed to prevent head on accidents at high speeds of 70mph.

"The median strips used on the roads in Australia for vehicles travelling 70mph are constructed with either a cement barrier or with a large earth median strip to prevent head on collisions.

"Gavin's death will not be the last to occur. 

"We never expected this to happen and nor should anyone else.

"But until the steel median strips on the road are upgraded, you are going to see more and more deaths on your roads."

Mr Stratford was released on bail and will be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday, March 3.

For more information and to sign the petition visit here.

Investigating officer sergeant Beth Walton, from Thames Valley Police's serious collision investigation unit, said the crash was 'avoidable' and caused a 'tragic loss'.

She added: “Driving whilst using a mobile phone is one of the ‘fatal four’ driving offences, along with speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and drink or drug driving.

"It’s an offence which can, as this case shows, have catastrophic consequences. The loss of a life in these circumstances and impact on families and friends is devastating.

“The conviction, I hope, will allow the family and friends of Gavin Roberts to have a sense of closure with regard to proceedings and enable them to continue through their grief at this difficult time.”