Jail warning for crash-deaths driver

Moldovan national Eduard Mereohra pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court yesterday to two charges of causing the deaths of Anthony David Metcalf and his wife Dorothy by dangerous driving on the A647 Stanningley bypass on January 1.

Retired electrician Mr Metcalf, 68, known as David, and his wife Dorothy, 65, of Wood Hill Road, Cookridge, Leeds, died after their Fiat Punto was struck by Mereohra’s Volvo C70.

Mereohra, 26, of Autumn Grove, Burley, Leeds, was remanded in custody to await sentence in May after the preparation of a report by a probation officer.

His counsel, Katherine Blackwell, told the court Mereohra understood a lengthy jail term would follow and said he had already been served with deportation papers.

Judge Colin Burn told him: “As I am sure you now understand these two matters are extremely grave and the sentence you will receive will be a substantial one so you must be aware of that.”

He said the Probation Service would provide the court with details about him “which will assist the court in sentencing. It will undoubtedly be in your best interests to co-operate with the making of that report.”

After the hearing the couple’s son Clive Metcalf issued a brief statement saying: “We as a family are pleased with the guilty pleas entered by Mereohra as this goes some way to putting an end to the nightmare we have experienced since New Year’s Day.”

“We are heartened by the support we have received from the police, friends and family. This plea has thankfully released all the witnesses to this terrible crime from having to relive their ordeal through a trial.”