Matthew Rycroft jailed for manslaughter of his son, Callum

Matthew Rycroft, 37, appeared today for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to the manslaughter of 12-year-old Callum Rycroft.

He also admitted offences of dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

The court heard Rycroft has numerous convictions for driving while disqualified, but did have a valid driving licence at the time of the crash.

Matthew Rycroft, 37, of Nowell View, in Leeds (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Callum was hit by a car while walking on the eastbound carriageway of the M62, between junctions 25 at Brighouse and 26 at Chain Bar, at 9.50pm on Saturday, August 5.

He died instantly.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Rycroft, of Nowell View, Leeds, had been drinking alcohol throughout the day in Huddersfield before leaving in his Audi Q5 with Callum to return home.

The Audi crashed on the M62 westbound exit slip road to Hartshead Moor Services at around 9.30pm.

Callum Rycroft, who was struck by a car and killed on the M62 aged 12 (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

Rycroft and his son left the vehicle, before walking through the services and onto the eastbound carriageway of the M62.

West Yorkshire Police received a report at 9.45pm of two people walking in the live lane of the motorway and minutes later Callum was struck by a Toyota C-HR.

At an earlier hearing, the court was told Callum and his dad were seen to cross the motorway to the central reservation and then for an unknown reason tried to run back.

Callum was born with spina bifida and diagnosed with autism at the age of four.

The Crown Prosecution Service said during that earlier hearing that Callum had no speed awareness due to his disability, meaning he should have been under his father’s protection.

It later transpired after the crash that Callum had phoned his mother and 999 but was told to end the call by Rycroft.

Photo of the M62 between Junction 25 and Junction 26, taken shortly after police reopened the motorway (Image: Newsquest)

The father's parents had also phoned him and urged him to stop driving.  

Callum was heard in the background of one of the calls saying  "Dad… won’t stop", a court was told at the earlier hearing.

Claire Bancroft, Callum's mum, described the special bond they shared and her son's unique character, in a victim personal statement submitted to the court.

She said: “Callum like any other child should have had the opportunity to grow up and go to college.

"He was only 12, he had his whole life ahead of him.

"I saw a bright future for Callum, I just know he would have achieved anything, and I am certain he would have got a good job, he would have been so good with anything practical.  

“What makes matters worse, if that could be possible, is that my children have lost their dad as well as their brother and they know Callum is not here because of their dad.

"Matt has torn the family apart, he has hurt a lot of people, but mostly he has let Callum down, all because of his selfishness.”  

Callum Rycroft, who was struck by a car and killed on the M62 aged 12 (Image: West Yorkshire Police)

In a further tribute to her son, she said: “Our family are devastated at the loss of Callum.

"He had such a big presence; we miss everything about him.

"He was so happy and he loved life. He was loved by everyone and we will miss him forever, he will never be forgotten.” 

Sentencing Rycroft, Judge Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, said: “Not content with placing yourself, Callum and other road users in danger by the standard of your driving, you attempted to escape the scene by running away.

“You fell at one point, he picked you up. Worse than that, you then elected to take your son across a very busy stretch of motorway, which, knowing his limitations as you did, and his age, and his vulnerabilities, you had to have been aware that would cause him confusion and fear.

“You deliberately placed Callum in a situation where his chances of another safe crossing were slim at best.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Sarah Jones, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “This is a truly sad case.

"Matthew Rycroft should have been one of the people who Callum could trust most in the world to keep him safe.

"Tragically, Matthew ignored the pleas of his family and put himself and his son in danger and it was Callum who paid the ultimate price.  

“Matthew will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life but, more importantly, so too will everyone else who loved Callum.

"I hope that the conclusion of this court case helps them as they continue to process their grief and adjust to a life without Callum.”  

As well as the 10-year jail sentence, Rycroft was also disqualified from driving for nine years and seven months.

A linked investigation by the Major Collision Enquiry Team remains ongoing.

The driver of the Toyota C-HR, a 47-year-old man, remains on bail while enquiries continue.