'You have ripped away a piece of my soul': Grieving widow tells Leeds driver who killed her 'beautiful' husband during police chase how he has destroyed her life

The heartbroken widow of a husband who was killed by a banned driver during a police chase told the man responsible for his death how he had 'ripped away her soul'.
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Jessica Kitson told Adam Badkin about the devastation he had left behind as he was sentenced over the death of her husband Andrew.

Badkin was jailed for six years yesterday (September 4) over the fatal collision in which Andrew Kitson was killed as he walked to his local shop.

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Badkin, 22, lost control of his Peugeot and mounted the pavement before hitting Mr Kitson, 44, on Leeds Road, Outwood.

Jessica and Andrew KitsonJessica and Andrew Kitson
Jessica and Andrew Kitson

Leeds Crown Court heard Badkin, of Westgate Lane, Lofthouse, Leeds, was trying to escape police officers who saw him driving while using his phone in East Ardsley on June 9 this year.

The former soldier was banned from driving at the time of the incident for driving while using a mobile phone on two previous occasions.

Mrs Kitson wept as she read a victim statement to the court shortly before Badkin was jailed.

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She said: “Andrew was a beautiful soul, the most loving, loyal and thoughtful man. An exemplary husband.

Adam Badkin was jailed for six years for causing death by dangerous driving.Adam Badkin was jailed for six years for causing death by dangerous driving.
Adam Badkin was jailed for six years for causing death by dangerous driving.

"Andrew never even got the slightest chance to fight for his life.

"Andrew was not doing anything wrong. He never did anything wrong.

"He should have been safe walking along a 30mph road.

"Andrew was healthy. He was fit and his mind was strong.

Floral tributes on Leeds Road, Outwood, after Andrew Kitson was knocked down and killed.Floral tributes on Leeds Road, Outwood, after Andrew Kitson was knocked down and killed.
Floral tributes on Leeds Road, Outwood, after Andrew Kitson was knocked down and killed.

"He was beautiful and he was innocent.

"He did nothing to deserve this."

Mrs Kitson described how she met her late husband when they were working together 13 years ago.

They quickly fell in love and moved in together.

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She said: “Andrew was my best friend and my soul mate and the love of my life.

“He was a well-read, intelligent and interesting man. He was quiet, pleasant and unassuming."

“We were matched in so many ways. We shared science degrees.

“We had all we needed in each other. We were a single entity, a formidable team."

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Mrs Kitson went on to describe how her late husband decided to leave his job aged 40 to pursue a career as a train driver.

He studied hard and beat tough competition to qualify as a driver for Northern Rail before moving to work for TransPennine Express.

She described how the couple had worked hard to build and design their ‘forever home’, saying: “We created a beautiful home in which we hoped to be able to raise our family.”

Mrs Kitson said she and her husband struggled with fertility but had joined a waiting list for fertility treatment shortly before lockdown.

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She told the court how Mr Kitson said goodbye to his wife moments before the crash as he left their home to go to the shop.

She said: “He shouted up to me and it was the very last time I was to hear his voice.”

Describing the moment she heard emergency vehicles close to their home a short time later, she said: “A foreboding came over me that I could not reasonably explain.”

“My life was ruined the moment Andrew was stolen from this world.

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“I have lost everything. My future. Our house is no longer a home for me. It is an empty lifeless shell. He is everywhere but nowhere.

“I will always grieve for my wonderful man."

Describing the driving as 'an horrific and unforgivable act', she told Badkin: "You have stolen at least 30 years from Andrew's life.

"You have stolen that life from me too.

"You could never repay that debt to my family."

Mrs Kitson continued: “Whatever your sentence, it will never compare to the sentence you have forced on me.

“You will never know the pain that I have been locked in until the day I die.

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“You will never know how everyday tasks fill me with anxiety.

“I dream of my Andrew with such vivid detail. You have ripped away a piece of my soul.

“You have broken me so completely that there is not enough time left in the rest of my life to put it back together.

“I am living in hell and I have done nothing to deserve this punishment."