A £45million lottery winner accused of killing a 75-year-old woman in a crash has told a court he took his eye off the road to stop his son ‘screaming like a burglar alarm’.
Matthew Topham’s BMW collided with a Ford Fiesta in North Cockerington, Lincolnshire, on Christmas Day 2019.
The crash killed Mary Jane Regler, 75, who was a passenger in the Fiesta being driven by 78-year-old Rodney Regler.
Topham, 31, who won £45million on the EuroMillions in 2012, told a jury he took his eyes off the road to retrieve his son’s teddy bear in order to stop him ‘screaming like a burglar alarm’.
He described his actions as ‘terrible’, but said every time his child let out the ‘massive’ scream it made him ‘crazy’.
He has denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
Matt Topham, pictured with his wife Cassey, told a jury he took his eye off the road for around three seconds to stop his son ‘screaming like a burglar alarm,’ before his BMW crashed into a Ford Fiesta on Christmas Day 2019
Lincoln Crown Court had heard Topham, thought to be Britain’s youngest EuroMillions winner, took his eyes off the road for ‘up to three seconds’ before crashing his BMW.
The defendant told how his eldest son had alerted him to the teddy being dropped on the floor, but he initially ignored it because he thought his youngest son had fallen asleep.
Topham said he had taken precautions before setting off from visiting his wife’s parents – including de-misting the windscreen and making sure the lights embedded into his Christmas jumper were turned off to avoid reflection.
Jurors briefly heard from the defendant about his jackpot win – and he explained how he and his wife ‘don’t flaunt our wealth – we’re not on Facebook or Instagram’.
Topham said he had bought a collection of cars, bought a house for his wife’s parents, paid off mortgages for friends and family, and helped his father retire from his work.
The crash killed Mary Jane Regler, 75, who was a passenger in the Fiesta. Topham said he had taken precautions before setting off from visiting his wife’s parents – including de-misting the windscreen and making sure the lights embedded into his Christmas jumper were turned off to avoid reflection.
Asked if he would take his lottery win back, the defendant said: ‘No. I don’t think anyone would.’
Defence QC Paul Greaney then asked: ‘Were you and your wife reckless with the money?’ to which Topham replied: ‘No.’
Explaining how his two-year-old son had made him turn his back on the road, the defendant told the court: ‘Initially, he just started a small whine as children do, and then just let out a massive scream and wouldn’t stop.
‘Ever since our youngest was a baby, one of his traits was this scream.
‘It was like someone had set off a burglar alarm and it made me crazy.
‘When he was younger there were some stages where I had to pass him to my wife because I couldn’t deal with the noise.’
The court heard how the lottery winner had once attended a speed awareness course after being caught speeding with a trailer, but had no points on his licence.
Topham, 31, has denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but previously pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
Addressing his reasons for pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving, Topham said: ‘I believe what I did was a careless act and it was wrong for me to turn around like that, and had I been of a reasonable mind I wouldn’t have done it.
‘I can’t explain to myself why I did it.
‘If I was consciously making a decision, I hope I would come to a better conclusion than I did that day.
‘If I could take it back I would, but I can’t.’
Topham, of Swinderby, Lincolnshire, denies causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The trial continues.