Driver responsible for killing girlfriend after 80mph race

The boyfriend of a woman who died after a 80mph car race through residential streets has been found responsible for her death.

Jay Bayliss, 32, killed front passenger Sophie Brimble when he lost control of his Volkswagen Polo while driving at almost three times the speed limit and smashed into a lamppost in Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, in July 2017.

He was racing Neil Brooks at the time of the crash, and a jury found Bayliss guilty of causing her death by dangerous driving at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday. Brooks was jailed in 2019 for the same offence.

Brimble's family described her as "beautiful inside and out" and had a "sparkle that made her unique" in a tribute.

The court heard on Monday Bayliss, who is from Brynmawr, entered an "impromptu race" and he and Brooks were "driving at excessive speed".

Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court Bayliss lost control at a high speed, and his car began to rotate and it slid towards and crashed into a lamppost.

This killed Brimble, then aged 20, and she died at the scene in King Street.

Bayliss was deemed unfit to stand trial due to injuries sustained in the crash - but he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in 2024 after Gwent Police consulted the Crown Prosecution Service.

Brimble's family said in a tribute: "Not only did we lose a precious member of our family, but we also lost a true friend, the kind of person whose presence you could never replace.

"Sophie is greatly missed every single day, in the quiet moments and the celebrations, in the laughter that reminds of us of her she was truly one of a kind, a beautiful soul that has left footprints on our hearts forever.

"Sophie will never be forgotten, with our treasured memories we hold close to our hearts, she will be forever loved.

"Sophie, our beautiful shining star."

PC Paul Rees, who assigned to Brimble's family as the family liaison officer, said: "We hope that the outcome brings some kind of closure to this long-standing investigation and recognise that, while judicial proceedings have been completed, their suffering will continue.

"This case should serve as a stark reminder that there is no place for dangerous driving on our roads, and we will seek to prosecute those involved."

The case was adjourned for a further hearing to be held next month to determine the appropriate legal outcome. The exact date is not yet known.

Brooks was jailed in September 2019 after trial for eight years, and he was disqualified from driving for five years following his release from prison.