Home Recent PostTheir son rang to thank them. They heard him die at the hands of someone who has shown no remorse

Their son rang to thank them. They heard him die at the hands of someone who has shown no remorse

by Martyn Jones

They had helped their son move house earlier the same day. They had no idea of what was coming

Harry Webb’s parents discuss their heartbreaking ordeal

Mike and Pat Webb waved goodbye to their beloved son Harry on a warm early autumn day after helping him move house.

He was set for the next chapter of a life in which, aged 27, he had already achieved so much.

Hours later only child Harry rang his parents, by now back home in Crickhowell, Powys, to thank them for their help in carting his possessions across London.

Harry, a music production student at the London College of Contemporary Music, was on his way for an evening swim at London Fields Lido and was calling them though the handsfree feature on his earphones with his phone clipped to his bike.

Mike was on the line that evening, on September 10, 2023, when speeding driver Tiffany Treanor-Johnson, who was 24 years old at the time, crashed her Audi A1 into Harry.

Having heard the loud noise an understandably distressed Mike started shouting.

A passer-by heard Mike’s voice coming through the phone, picked it up from the pavement, and told him what had happened.

Mike, 66, said: “The passer-by we spoke to told us said that Harry had his helmet on.

“He was trying to reassure me, I think, but we could hear the sirens.

“We then got told an ambulance had arrived and was taking Harry to hospital.

“We both packed some things into a bag thinking he’d got a broken leg or something.

“That was until a surgeon from the hospital rang us. They said we needed pull over so we did.

“Then we were told Harry had suffered major brain trauma and he likely would not survive.

“He died two days later surrounded by his family and about 20 of his friends.

“He had only rang up to say: ‘Thanks mum, thanks dad’ for helping him with the move.

“The reason we’d gone back up to university with him was that he had moved flats, from one side of London to the other, so we were helping to move his stuff.

“He was probably only on Kenworthy Road for about 50 yards and then on to the next one. People local to that road have been campaigning for about 15 years to make it safe.”

On the first day of what was supposed to be Treanor-Johnson’s trial the couple, who run department store Webbs of Crickhowell, were in court to hear her change her plea and admit causing death by dangerous driving.

The court was told Treanor-Johnson had been driving at 53mph in a 20mph road at the time of the collision and was found to have taken nitrous oxide, a Class C drug.

Mike said: “I guess you could say it is good that we don’t have to sit through the two-week trial.

“But she had no defence anyway and she has been totally in denial of what she’s done.

“There has been no remorse. No remorse whatsoever.”

Pat added: “She drove off after fatally injuring Harry. Another car swerved and crashed into her to stop her from getting away.

“There were two other girls in the car at the time too who have not been held accountable for their role. Yet we have a lifetime of grief to endure and it does not get any easier.

“I keep thinking: ‘It’s going to get less’ but it seems to get more.

“When you’re a decent person you honestly cannot believe that something could make you feel so awful towards another person. I’ve not experienced those feelings before. Never.

“I have never wished anybody any ill but there has been no remorse so it makes you mad, you know?

“After all of this time we have not heard anything from her or her family – not even an: ‘I’m sorry’ or a: ‘Sorry for your loss’. Nothing.

“It has all been about her, about how hard her childhood was and other things, when we are the victims – our son is dead. He has been robbed of his future.”

Harry was described by his parents as somebody who had the ability to “light up a room”.

Pat said: “Harry was a drummer and he played the piano, he wrote music. If he was doing something he liked to do it right.

“He travelled the world for his music. He went solo to Cuba to learn the clave and he also went to Spain to learn a certain rhythm called flamenco.

“He loved learning and he was so clever. He had such a bright future ahead of him.

“He didn’t see people for their race, their ethnicity, or anything like that – he just saw people as human. The world would be a much better place if people were more like Harry.

“He expressed himself through fashion. He was unique and outgoing. He loved music and philosophy. We loved it, when he was with us, always hearing the piano being played.”

Harry had a maths and philosophy degree from Bristol University and a master’s in philosophy from the University of Amsterdam. He was studying in London at the time of his death, in the second year of a master’s degree in music production.

“He always saw the good in life, the fun in life – and where he got his brains from with us two I don’t know,” she said while laughing.

They remembered a school awards night where Harry was to be receiving an award but did not fancy attending. Harry eventually agreed to go but only if he could choose what he was wearing.

He opted for a tail coat-style suit, blue pointed shoes, a waistcoat, a top hat, and a cane.

Mike said: “We were, and are, so proud of him. He was just Harry. He taught us to and lived by just accepting people for who they are.

“Whoever knew Harry loved him and I know people say this about their children all of the time but Harry was one in a million. He truly was.”

Both Pat and Mike believe more needs to be done across the country in terms of road safety.

Pat – who turned 66 on May 3 but, like Mike, no longer celebrates birthdays – said: “Lots of deaths on the road are preventable. Road deaths are not treated seriously enough and the punishments are nearly always unjust.

“Road deaths must be taken seriously. Drivers must look out for cyclists and pedestrians. People do have a responsibility driving vehicles.”

They will continue campaigning for reforms within the justice system on how victims are supported and how defendants are dealt with.

On Friday the Metropolitan Police issued a statement saying it will be changing the way it responds to serious crash investigations.

Metropolitan Police commander Charmain Brenyah said: “Following a review of the roads and transport policing command we will be fundamentally resetting how the Met investigates fatal and serious collisions.

“This will ensure our response to incidents of this nature are more effective, providing better support and outcomes for victims and families.”

Detective inspector Mark Braithwaite, of the Met’s serious collision investigation unit, added: “Harry’s life was cruelly stolen from him by Tiffany Treanor-Johnson.

“Her decision to initially contest the case put his family and loved ones through months of unnecessary pain as they prepared for the trial.

“This has been a lengthy and complex investigation and I am incredibly grateful to my officers and for the patience and understanding of Harry’s parents.

“My thoughts remain with Harry’s family and I hope that this guilty plea provides some comfort to them.”

Treanor-Johnson is due to be sentenced in July this year.

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