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Death crash footballer is jailed Death crash footballer is jailed
(40 minutes later)
A professional footballer has been jailed for seven years and four months for causing the deaths of two children by dangerous driving. A professional footballer has been jailed for seven years and four months for killing two children in a crash.
Former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick, 25, admitted causing the deaths of Arron Peak, 10, and Ben Peak, eight, and driving with excess alcohol.Former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick, 25, admitted causing the deaths of Arron Peak, 10, and Ben Peak, eight, and driving with excess alcohol.
The brothers, from Partington, Greater Manchester, died in a crash on the M6 in Staffordshire on 7 June.The brothers, from Partington, Greater Manchester, died in a crash on the M6 in Staffordshire on 7 June.
McCormick entered his guilty pleas at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court earlier. The court heard he had been "driving like an idiot,". The boys' parents said they were "scarred forever".
'Fell asleep' The court also heard McCormick, who was returning from a wedding, had ignored a plea from a friend to stop driving and pull over at services. We will both carry the emotional scars forever Philip and Amanda Peak
The court heard that when breathalysed McCormick, who had been returning from a wedding, was found to have 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. Friends and relatives of the boys' family jeered McCormick as he arrived at court.
The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.Philip and Amanda Peak said their scars will never heal In a victim impact statement the boys' parents, Philip and Amanda Peak, said their lives had been "shattered" by the accident.
They added they were disappointed he would be eligible for parole in three-and-a-half years' time.
"In court, his barrister spoke of the effect this case has had on Luke. We find this offensive.
"Phil will carry the scars of the incident for life. We will both carry the emotional scars forever," they said.
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CCTV of Luke McCormick's car before the crash
The court heard that when breathalysed McCormick was found to have 74 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
The brothers and their father Philip Peak, 37, were in a Toyota Previa with friends, travelling to Silverstone racetrack, when the crash happened.The brothers and their father Philip Peak, 37, were in a Toyota Previa with friends, travelling to Silverstone racetrack, when the crash happened.
Their car was involved in a collision with McCormick's Range Rover at about 0545 BST on the southbound carriageway of the motorway between junctions 15 and 16, near Keele services. Their car was involved in a collision with McCormick's Range Rover at about 0545 BST on the southbound carriageway of the motorway between junctions 15 and 16, near Keele services.Friends and relatives of the Peak family were at the court
Mr Peak, 37, who was driving, was seriously injured in the crash.Mr Peak, 37, who was driving, was seriously injured in the crash.
McCormick kept his head bowed and covered his face with his hand as the court heard he had told eyewitnesses at the crash scene: "I am so sorry, I'm sorry. I just fell asleep. I fell asleep, I'm sorry."McCormick kept his head bowed and covered his face with his hand as the court heard he had told eyewitnesses at the crash scene: "I am so sorry, I'm sorry. I just fell asleep. I fell asleep, I'm sorry."
Before the accident other motorists noticed him "driving like an idiot" and estimated his speed at around 90mph (144km/h).Before the accident other motorists noticed him "driving like an idiot" and estimated his speed at around 90mph (144km/h).
McCormick, a former England youth international, had his contract with Championship side Plymouth cancelled by mutual consent a month after the crash. In mitigation, John Jones told the court he had been on his way to "sort out his love life," when the crash happened.
'Hopes shattered'
In a victim impact statement the boys' parents, Philip and Amanda Peak, said their lives had been "shattered" by the accident.
"All our hopes and dreams for the future have been taken away from us," they said.
Friends and relatives of the Peak family were at the court
In mitigation, John Jones told the court McCormick had become introverted and suffered nightmares after the crash.
"He was a professional footballer with a potentially glittering future," he said.
"His career would have developed, the rewards in every sense of the word, would be limitless."
That was lost forever and McCormick is a shadow of his former self, he added.
'Speed and alcohol''Speed and alcohol'
After the hearing, the boys' family issued a statement telling of their disappointment that McCormick could be eligible for parole after serving three and a half years of his sentence. He had been at a teammate David Norris's wedding in Bolton when he became upset about rumours of his fiancee's alleged infidelity which had been posted on the internet.
"We find it offensive that in court, his barrister spoke of the effect this had on Luke," they said. He was seen drinking beer and downing shots of sambuca beflore leaving the reception at 0200 BST. He got two hours sleep before getting up and leaving for Coventry.
"We will carry the scars of this forever." The court heard he ignored a telephone plea from his room-mate to stop driving and pull over at services.
Sgt Steve Robinson of the Central Motorway Police Group, said McCormick had nearly collided with several people before the crash took place. McCormick, a former England youth international, had his contract with Championship side Plymouth cancelled by mutual consent a month after the crash.
He was disqualified from driving for four years for causing death by dangerous driving.
Sgt Steve Robinson of the Central Motorway Police Group said McCormick had nearly collided with several people before the crash took place.
"I am shocked at the speed and the alcohol," he said."I am shocked at the speed and the alcohol," he said.
"If he had only stopped, this tragedy could have been avoided.""If he had only stopped, this tragedy could have been avoided."