A drink driver who killed an innocent motorist during a collision near Middlewich has been jailed.

Adam Boulton appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 25 November where he was sentenced to ten years in prison.

The 36-year-old of Essington Way, Tunstall, had earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and dangerous driving.

At around 5.35pm on Thursday 12 December 2024, Boulton was driving a grey Range Rover Velar on the A54 Holmes Chapel Road, in Sproston.

As the car was travelling towards the M6, Boulton was seen crossing a double solid white line in the middle of the road and colliding head on with a white Vauxhall Corsa, which was travelling in the opposite direction.

Police, fire and ambulance were called to the scene and on arrival Boulton was found slumped over in the driver's seat, with a number of empty bottles of gin also found in the passenger footwell. Officers described how he smelt strongly of intoxicants and was slurring his words.

Boulton was immediately arrested before being taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, where blood samples were taken.

The driver of the Corsa, 52-year-old Paula Chadwick, sustained a number of serious injuries. She was released from her car by firefighters before being treated by paramedics and taken to hospital.

Sadly, despite the best efforts of all those involved, Paula passed away on Friday 13 December at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

An investigation into the incident was launched and during their enquiries officers spoke to multiple witnesses who all described how Boulton had been driving erratically in the moments prior to the collision. They also stated that he had veered over onto the opposite side of the carriageway without any warning and for no apparent reason.

Detectives also recovered evidence which showed that Boulton had been driving dangerously on the A556 in Tabley, just hours before the collision in Sproston.

Blood tests results later revealed that Boulton's blood contained 262 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, almost three and a half times the legal drink drive limit.

During questioning, Boulton claimed that he believed that that there was a mechanical fault with the car and that he been struggling to control the vehicle. Despite his claims, tests showed that there was no evidence of any fault.

Following a thorough investigation by detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Cheshire Police, a case file of evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service who charged Boulton with causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and dangerous driving.

He later pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Following the sentencing Detective Inspector Andrew Dennison of the Serious and Complex Collision Investigation unit said: "This was a tragic but entirely preventable collision caused by Boulton's poor driving and his catastrophic decision to drive while under the influence.

"Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege, not a right, and it comes with great responsibility to act within the rules laid down when you pass your test.

"That day Boulton chose to deliberately ignore those rules, he knowingly got behind the wheel whilst drunk, and as a result of his actions an innocent woman lost her life.

"Paula's family have been left devastated following her death and I hope that in some small way, this gives the family some comfort knowing justice has been served.

"I would like to pass on my gratitude to the members of public who assisted at the scene and for the courts for handing down this sentence on Boulton."

In addition to his prison sentence, Boulton was also banned from driving for seven years upon release from prison. Once he has completed his driving ban, he will also be required to undertake an extended driving test.

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