A grief-stricken mother whose daughter died in a horrific car crash has kept her child's party outfit on her bed during the two years since.
Claudia Forden, 22, was killed in an almost head-on smash when Jack Caddick lost control of his Mercedes on a bend on a country road as he sped to Starbucks at 68mph on August 28, 2021. A court heard Caddick's girlfriend Fleur Durrant was also seriously hurt on what was her 21st birthday.
Caddick was jailed for five years and four months and banned from driving for eight years and eight months on Friday at Liverpool Crown Court, which heard emotional tributes to Claudia. Her mum Michelle Forden said in a statement: "The day Claudia was taken from us began as a gloriously sunny day. We were driving home from a holiday and couldn't wait to see the kids."
Jack Caddick lost control of his Mercedes on a bend on a country road (Liverpool Echo)Claudia, who was a nursery teacher, had spent the previous evening at Fleur's house to celebrate her friend's 21st birthday the next night, Liverpool Echo reports. Michelle said of this: "She was excited for the celebrations that night. Claudia's outfit was laid out on her bed. That was the way we found it when we came home from the hospital, and that is the way it still is today."
Michelle said that she had spoken to her daughter on the phone "60 seconds before" the crash while she was in Caddick's car, telling the court: "The signal was breaking up. We told her we loved her and I buttoned the call."
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She then sent a text which read "have fun and stay safe", but this was never opened as the car collided near Little Crosby, Merseyside. Michelle said: "I will never know if she heard us. We never got to see her again after we returned from our holiday. I never got to say goodbye. She died alone. I had already given her my last hug, I would never have let go if I had known."
The mum and daughter had a weekend away in London booked for a week after the crash, including a visit to Harry Potter World, and "couldn't wait" for their mini-break.
Michelle said: "The loss of a child and the grief that follows is impossible to define, it can only be felt in your heart. It is a collection of profound and raw emotions which is way too powerful for any vocabulary.
"Having Claudia taken from us so unexpectedly and so violently has devastated us beyond belief. Our lives as we knew and loved them are over. Claudia was my daughter, and she was so much more than my best friend.
"She was on the cusp of adulthood and stunningly beautiful, hilariously funny and full of life. She was generous and caring by nature. Claudia loved loud music, singing and dancing, clothes, makeup tutorials and socialising. She had lot of friends, old and new - she was enjoying every minute of her youthful, carefree life."
Michelle said that the childcare assistant "loved the little ones" in her care, with a framed picture of her now hanging in the nursery where she worked alongside a defibrillator which was purchased in her memory. Michelle also described how one of Claudia's cousins lives near to the scene of crash and went to help after hearing "two horrific bangs and a horn continually sounding". They then gave first aid to Caddick at the roadside, "blissfully unaware" that the emergency services were attempting resuscitation on the woman only metres away.
Police cordoned off the rural road as they investigated the crash (Liverpool Echo)She reported that the defendant had later asked to attend the funeral, adding: "He knew it was his speed that killed her. I thought long and hard about allowing him to come, because I wanted to believe that it was an accident.
"Why he thought it was acceptable to be there and why he thought we would want him in company repulses me. How do you have such a total disregard for my daughter's life?
"His life for his actions would have been a much fairer outcome, but life is not fair. You have imposed a lifelong sentence upon everyone who knew and loved Claud. Your sentence will be over far too soon. I am so glad I refused you closure, I don't believe you deserve it.
"I will never forgive you. You chose not to protect her. Instead, you chose to speed in a selfish fulfilment to thrill. I will never come to terms with this life without my bestie, our daughter Claudia.
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"I will miss every single thing about Claudia. She should be here with us and living life to the full, but she is not because she made the fatal mistake of trusting her friend's boyfriend. Claudia will always be 22 years old. The door to her future was slammed shut by Caddick."
Michelle also read out a statement from Claudia's dad David Forden, who stood by her side as she said: "Sometimes when I wake up I think she's still there, then I realise she's gone and will never come back. I get that feeling of losing her all over again. I will never learn to live with it. I love her so much."
Her brother Max meanwhile recalled the final time he spoke to his sister the day before, when she told him that she was staying over at Ms Durrant's house overnight. He said: "She said I love you, and I said I love you too, I didn't expect that this would be the last time I would hear her voice."
Having heard news of the crash in a phone call from his mum, he packed Claudia's pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers in a bag to be taken to her in hospital. But his parents then arrived home and informed him of her death.
Max added in his statement: "I never got to say goodbye to my sister, and this is something I will live with for the rest of my life. I will never see her become a mother, an aunt or a wife. I now have to face life alone as an only child. I will never get to hug Claudia or tell her I love her again."
Caddick admitted causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. In addition to his jail term, he will be required to pass an extended retest.
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