Polish immigrant who fled Britain after horror smash that killed a father is jailed for eight years

Polish immigrant, 29, who fled Britain after 100mph head-on horror smash that killed father, 49, on way to son’s graduation is jailed in home nation for eight years

  • Adrian Wojciechowski, 29, lost control while speeding in his BMW in July 2018
  • He killed David Grant-Jones’ when he smashed into his Land Rover Freelander 
  • Wojciechowski fled back to Poland before he was due to stand trial in the UK

A Polish immigrant who fled Britain after he caused a horror smash that killed a father travelling home from his son’s graduation has been jailed in his homeland for eight years.

Adrian Wojciechowski, 29, was speeding in his BMW at more than 100mph when he lost control and crashed head-on into David Grant-Jones’ Land Rover Freelander.

Mr Grant-Jones, 49, died at the scene following the collision on the A35 Puddletown bypass in Dorset on July 14, 2018.

The oil rig tool manager had been travelling home from his son’s graduation at Portsmouth University with his wife. 

Mr Grant-Jones, 49, died at the scene following the horror smash on the A35 Puddletown bypass in Dorset on July 14, 2018.

Wojciechowski (left) fled to Poland before he was due to stand trial for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Mr Grant-Jones, 49 (right), died at the scene following the horror smash on the A35 Puddletown bypass in Dorset on July 14, 2018

She also sustained serious injuries in the crash and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Wojciechowski fled to Poland before he was due to stand trial for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. 

A blood sample from revealed three microgrammes per litre of blood of an active component of cannabis – above the legal limit.  

He was convicted in his absence at Bournemouth Crown Court and sentenced to 11 years in prison in November 2019.

Wojciechowski was arrested in Poland the following month following a joint collaboration between British authorities and the International Crime Coordination Centre. 

It has now been confirmed that under the Extradition Act Wojciechowski will not be returned to the UK to serve his sentence and will instead remain in prison in Poland.

The Polish equivalent of causing death by dangerous driving carries a maximum sentence of eight years.

It has been ruled that Wojciechowski will remain in prison until March 2028. 

In a family tribute, Mrs Grant-Jones said: ‘Dave was a kind, loving, generous man. He was a brilliant dad to both our son Kristian and my two children Nick and Kerry, who he loved as if they were his own.

‘I knew how lucky I was to have him in my life. Dave was my life.

‘Dave’s main goal in life was to make his family happy, something he achieved every single day.

‘He was a hard-working and funny man who had a wonderful knack of cheering up any situation with his silly jokes or smiley face.’ 

Mr Grant-Jones’s step-daughter Kerry Arnold said: ‘Dad and Mum were planning their retirement and they had so much ahead of them.

‘Dad was 49 years old. His life was cruelly taken away and him and our mum have been denied their happy future together.

‘They were soul mates, each other’s world, our world.

‘Mum’s injuries are ongoing, some of which will never heal.’