THE driver responsible for causing the death of his friend in an accident could play a key part in a road safety campaign planned by his victim’s mother.

Andrew Watkins, who admitted causing the death of his 20-year-old friend Luke Godsall, has agreed to help Karen Robinson warn young drivers about the dangers of excessive speed.

Watkins, aged 21, of Elmdale, Ewyas Harold, was jailed for five years by a judge at Worcester Crown Court last week after admitting causing death by dangerous driving while disqualified.

Mr Godsall died in an accident on the A49 near Wellington on November 9 last year and his mother wants to alert youngsters to the consequences of dangerous driving.

“I have asked him and he said he would take part. He did not hesitate – he said ‘yes’ straight away,” said Mrs Robinson, who lives in Shobdon.

“The idea behind asking him was that he was responsible for Luke’s death and he is closer to the age of the youngsters, so perhaps they would relate to him better.

“Andrew caused the accident but he is full of remorse. I have seen and heard what he is going through.”

Mrs Robinson said there were practical problems with his involvement, as he is serving a prison sentence, but hopes he will be able to participate.

“I’m hoping that by doing something different, like getting Andy involved, it could work.

“OK, his behaviour was not good, but it was the behaviour that was bad not necessarily the person.”

Mrs Robinson wants to organise a campaign in the week in November that marks the anniversary of Luke’s death.

“The message I get when I talk to these youngsters is they don’t think about the consequences of what they’re doing,” she said.

“They’re out to have some fun but they need to think before putting their foot down – it’s their responsibility”

Watkins told the court, through his solicitor, he was responsible for the death of Mr Godsall and should pay the price.

Mr Godsall, who lived in Hereford, was a back seat passenger in the blue Renault Megane, which crashed on the A49, close to the turning for Wellington.

The court was told that Watkins was already disqualified from driving and had been driving at speeds of up to 125mph before rolling his car.

He was banned from the road for 10 years and must take an extended test before he can drive again.

The court also heard that Watkins had promised to use his experience in a campaign against bad driving.

TOUCHING tributes from friends and family are helping the parents of Luke Godsall cope with their devastation.

Luke’s mother and father have been comforted by messages of support following the loss of their son.

His father Brian Godsall attended Worcester Crown Court last week to see Andrew Watkins jailed for five years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Godsall said that, despite struggling to forgive Watkins, he was grateful for a strong show of support from Luke’s friends.

“I’m getting accustomed to it but, as for forgiving him, I don’t think I can. At this particular time I cannot forgive him,” said Mr Godsall, of College Road, Hereford.

He said a poster put together by Luke’s friends had made a fitting tribute.

“Luke’s friends have done a poster made up of pictures of him mostly taken off mobile phones and they posted it to me last week,” he said.

“I think quite a few of his friends have got one now as well and I intend to get it framed.”

Messages of support still pour in to Luke’s page on a social networking website more than seven months after his death.

“Luke has got a Bebo site that is still open and the amount of people that visit it and leave messages for him is brilliant. The youngsters don’t seem to forget.”

Many of his friends joined in a graveside tribute at Dore Abbey to mark what would have been Luke’s 21st birthday.

“We went to his grave on his birthday on June 1. There were probably 40 of his friends that came along and we let off about 30 helium balloons,” said Mr Godsall, who worked with Luke at Taskworthy in Pontrilas.

“To start off it was just going to be family but word got around and