Posted on 04/12/2026 4:22:26 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Aimee Coombes says she will never get over losing her sister Sophie Brimble in a car crash in 2017. Now the trauma has come back with the driver jointly responsible back behind the wheel
Aimee Coombes (right) and her sister Sophie Brimble who died in a high speed car crash in Brynmawr in 2017(Image: Aimee Coombes) She lost her sister when she was killed in a high speed car race and now Aimee Coombes says she is re-living the trauma with the driver jointly responsible allowed back on the roads. Courts and police are powerless to stop Jay Bayliss holding a driving licence.
Aimee's younger sister Sophie Brimble, 20, died at the scene when Bayliss, her boyfriend, crashed into a lamp post driving at speeds of 70mph racing on a street in Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent.
Bayliss was judged to be too badly injured to stand trial at the time but police found out he had successfully re-applied for his driving licence in 2024 and re-opened the investigation. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
Despite being deemed fit to drive Bayliss has again been ruled by a court as unfit for criminal proceedings. Last week he was given an absolute discharge at Newport Crown Court and the authorities are powerless to remove his re-issued driving licence.
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Aimee, who lives near Crickhowell, said she and her grieving family were in disbelief that the DVLA has judged Bayliss is fit to drive when a court has declared, a second time, that he is still unfit to stand trial.
"I am very angry. It feels very unjust. It doesn't make sense. They should take the licence off him before he hurts someone else," she said.
"I have lost my sister who was also my best friend. You don't get over it. Seeing him (driving) brings it all back. It feels like he has got away with it.
"He didn't even have to attend the original trial. This has brought it all back.
"The rest of our family are so angry we don't know how to explain it. It is down to the DVLA, not court or police. The police said it is out of their hands, once a doctor says someone is not fit for court that's it."
Aimee said she sat again through the court case genuinely believing he would have to stand trial this time and have his licence taken away.
"I went to the court all through. It was a shock. I thought the trial would go ahead and then they said he was unfit again."
Bayliss, now 32, of Heol Onen, Brynmawr, had been found jointly responsible for Sophie's death in the 70mph crash nine years ago. He was given an absolute discharge last week meaning he won't be punished further.
Aimee said it was not clear to her and her family why the standard of being fit enough to drive, with all the concentration, attention to detail and forethought that takes, is not as high as standards of fitness to stand trial for a matter as serious as causing the death of someone whilst driving.
Sophie was the front seat passenger in the black Volkswagen polo when Bayliss lost control of the car on the A4047 and crashed into a lamp post in July 2017.
A fact finding trial at Newport Crown Court in March heard Bayliss became involved in an "impromptu" race with Neil Brooks, who was the driver of another car.
It had been previously agreed by doctors that Bayliss was unfit to take part in the trial and it was not possible for him to say if he was guilty or not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
At the conclusion of the two-day hearing Bayliss was found by the jury to be jointly responsible for causing the death of Ms Brimble by dangerous driving. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
At his sentencing last Tuesday, April 7, Judge Celia Hughes told the court how Bayliss was 23 at the time of the crash and had been driving around the area while his friends drove around in separate cars.
"There is no evidence that I have seen that you had been drinking or taking illicit drugs when you took the decision," she said. Referring to evidence previously heard, Judge Hughes told the court how Bayliss had been driving in excess of 70mph along a 30mph residential road.
As Bayliss negotiated a right-hand curve in the road he lost control of the car and crashed into a lamppost, she said. The collision resulted in Ms Brimble sustaining "catastrophic injuries" which caused her death at the scene.
Bayliss also received significant physical and psychological injuries which required years of rehabilitation, Judge Hughes said. These injuries have resulted in a traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, mood swings and anxiety. Bayliss has no recollection of the crash, it was heard.
Bayliss lives at home with his mother and next door to his partner of several months. He is unable to work due to his injuries and is the recipient of universal credit, Judge Hughes said. Prior to the crash he had worked as a kitchen and bathroom fitter for a local authority.
He had no prior convictions and has not committed any more offences since the incident. A probation report stated that he poses a "low risk" of further offending and a "medium risk" of causing serious harm to the public, which had reduced from "high" due to his lack of reoffending.
Judge Hughes called his actions "foolhardy and impetuous", adding that they resulted in "terrible consequences for many people". She reminded Bayliss that whatever sentence she passed could not change the fact that a young woman "with a whole life ahead of her" had died.
She sentenced Bayliss to an absolute discharge and explained that it was the only sentence she could pass, adding that the only other two available options - either a hospital stay or a supervision order - would not be appropriate.
Judge Hughes expressed her concern that Bayliss had successfully reapplied for a driving licence in 2024. She explained that because Bayliss had been deemed unfit to stand trial she was legally unable to pass a driving ban or disqualification period.
However, she said she is "pleased" to hear that the prosecution is in contact with the DVLA over the matter, and that her comments will be repeated to the agency.
Aimee said she hoped that the DVLA may reconsider and revoke Bayliss's licence. She said it was not clear to her ands her family why the standard of being fit enough to drive, with all the concentration, attention to detail and forethought that takes, is not as high as standards of fitness to stand trial for a matter as serious as causing the death of someone whilst driving.
She said she and her family have been silent for the last nine years but have now decided enough is enough and to speak out.
Now married, in her 30s and with children of her own, Aimee regrets her children will never know their aunt.
And she said it sickens her to see Bayliss driving in Crickhowell where her children may also see him.
They should be jailed for life. They should hold muslims to the same standard. Lock them all in a cage.
Half the British drivers drive like madmen.
“These injuries have resulted in a traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, mood swings and anxiety.”
In this state, your license is (if reported) suspended for one year after your last documented seizure.
Not only was the lady's sister was killed in a car crash, but now Trump is being blamed also?
“In this state, your license is (if reported) suspended for one year after your last documented seizure.”
Three months
“In this state, your license is (if reported) suspended for one year after your last documented seizure.”
Three months
Article said Bayliss is the recipient of universal credit. What is that?
Who did they vote for?
If the guy is medically unfit to even enter a plea or stand trial, is subject to seizures and brain problems, is on the dole, has no job, etc., why in hell does he need a driving license?
Since shooting isn’t an option in the UK, the sister might have to resort to shovel; shovel; shut up.
Where in the article was there any mention of Muslims?
I’ll double check but based on the context in which the term is used I believe that means he is considered to be life long disabled.
Why does that matter? Do you think they voted based on who campaigned on lenient handling of fatal crashes?
And he's deemed fit to drive a car? If he kills again, the head of the driver's license bureau should be charged with murder.
Good question.
Sorry. I had clicked on another story and replied to that. Must be an aging thing.
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