Plea from mum of Rebecca Marchant, killed in drink-drive crash near Hordle

THE mother of a 15-year-old girl killed in a crash near Hordle caused by a drink-driver has urged motorists not to play “Russian roulette” with alcohol during Christmas.

Nearly seven years after her daughter Rebecca Marchant died, mum Karen has spoken out to urge revellers not to get behind the wheel after drinking.

Admitting the family still struggles to come to terms with their loss, she said: “My daughter was only 15 when she was killed. She had her whole life ahead of her.

“Then she was gone in the blink of an eye.”

She is supporting Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Operation Holly campaign, which will target drink and drug-drivers throughout December.

Karen said: “I’ve always said drink-driving is like playing Russian roulette. People get away with it a few times but then the fifth of sixth time they do it something terrible can happen.

“I made that same journey Rebecca had made that night with police afterwards and it only took four minutes if you drove at a normal speed.

“That’s where people think it won’t happen to them, when they are close to home and know the roads.

“If you get behind the wheel after drinking, that car becomes a dangerous weapon in your hands because you are not in control.”

Rebecca, from Surrey, had been staying with family friends when the tragic crash happened in February 2016.

She was the front-seat passenger in a Mercedes sports car driven by Alexander McBride which crashed into a tree on their way back from Shorefields holiday camp.

McBride fled the scene even though his own daughter and eight-year-old niece were also in the vehicle.

When arrested he was twice the drink-drive limit and had traces of cannabis in his system.

At the trial it emerged that McBride, then 34 and an alcoholic, had drank three cans of beer before also downing five double brandies and coke in less than two hours.

It was on the drive to his home in Sky End Lane in Hordle that he crashed his car.

McBride, who had previous convictions for drink-driving and dangerous driving, admitted causing death by driving without due care and attention.

He was jailed for four years and four months, and banned from driving for five years and two months.

Although it is nearly seven years since Rebecca died in the crash, her mother says her family still struggle to come to terms with her death.

She said: “Drink-driving devastates lives. Rebecca’s grandparents have never gotten over it because nobody expects to outlive their grandchildren.

“It is us that have been left with a life sentence, really, because we think about her every day. She’s with me every single day, even though she’s not.

“If you kill someone drink-driving, that will destroy your life as well.

“It’s like throwing a stone in a pool: the ripples through their family and your family and friends. It affects so many lives.”