'My sons' love and laughter filled every space'

A father has paid tribute to his "two extraordinary boys" who were killed when a car driven by their mother crashed into another vehicle.

Louie Ellis, 8, and Mason Ellis, 6, died after the head-on collision in Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire, in October 2023.

Their mother, Amy Sheppard, was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving and three counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.

Laurie Ellis said his sons' "love, laughter and spirit filled every space they were in".

"Louie and Mason had the most beautiful souls," he said.

"Their kindness, warmth and laughter drew people to them, and everyone who knew them adored them.

"Our whole family adored them deeply and looked forward to weekends with them, weekends filled with noise, fun, love and togetherness that meant more than words can say.

"As their dad, my love for Louie and Mason is endless and unconditional.

"They were my world, my heart, my everything. Losing them has left two enormous holes in my heart, holes that will never be filled.

"Their loss has deeply impacted our family's lives, and nothing will ever be the same without them."

During her sentencing in December, Lincoln Crown Court heard that Sheppard lost control of her car on a bend due to an under inflated tyre.

A four-year-old child in the car was also injured but survived and three adults in the car she hit were hospitalised with serious injuries.

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