Mother's 'indescribable' heartache over death of autistic son, 12

The mother of an autistic son who was killed while walking on the M62 after his drink-driving father crashed and left youngster behind as he fled has spoken of her 'indescribably' heartache.

Callum Rycoft, 12, was stuck by a car as he tried to cross the busy motorway with Matthew Rycroft last August, who continued walking without looking back for his son. 

The cowardly father was found hiding in a bush around 400 yards away, and has now been jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter, dangerous driving, and failing to provide a specimen.

Rycroft had taken Callum to visit his parents in Huddersfield on August 5, 2023, and had been drinking throughout the day.

His parents begged him not to drive home but he ignored them and just over half an hour after setting off, he crashed on a slip road near Hartshead Moor.

Speaking publicly for the first time since Callum's death, his mother Claire Bancroft remembered her 'lovely' boy - and told of her fury over the way he died.

She said: 'It remains almost impossible to find the words to describe the anger, hurt and pain our family feel over his death.

'When Callum left home that day I never thought for a moment that he wouldn't return home.

'It was only because of the selfish actions and behaviour of his dad that he didn't.

'Callum was a lovely boy with his entire future ahead of him. My heart breaks when I think about how scared and frightened he must have been in those final moments.

'Our family will never be the same again without Callum. We all adored him and his death has left a huge void in our lives that we'll never be able to replace.'

Callum called his mum to tell her about the crash. He said his dad had told him to run down the motorway.

The pair walked for around 15 minutes as cars passed them at 70mph.

They then crossed to the central reservation, where they walked for about a minute before attempting to cross back.

Callum, who had no speed awareness due to his autism, was struck by a car. He died at the scene.

Rycroft was so drunk he didn't even realise his son had been struck and was found by firefighters and police hiding in bushes a short distance away, the court heard. 

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The feckless father earlier had set off in his car with his son after spending several hours drinking at a cricket club in Huddersfield. Prosecutor Michael Smith said Rycroft was clearly unfit to drive and he ignored pleas from his parents on the phone not to drive as he headed home, with the terrified Callum heard 'crying' in the background. 

Rycroft's silver Audi was seen swerving around on the motorway before hitting a barrier, overturning and crashing on a service station slip road.

Callum's mother Claire Bancroft called police after she also phoned her son and was told the boy was being made to 'run down the motorway.'

Rycroft ordered his son to 'put the phone down' when the police operator then phoned the youngster to find their exact location as they headed along the motorway on foot.

The court was shown CCTV footage showing Callum walking on the outside, just a few feet from passing cars, and his father staggering in a drunken state beside him. The pair walked alongside the three-lane motorway for about 15 minutes. 

Mr Smith said Callum helped his father when he fell on to the road when they crossed to the central reservation.

Minutes later Rycroft is seen on camera running across the carriageway and reaching the other side but the schoolboy 'ran into the path of an oncoming vehicle,' he said.

The tragedy happened in August at around 9.45pm. Ms Bancroft went to the hospital believing her son had escaped injury from his ordeal only to be told he was dead.

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Passing sentence in November last year, the Recorder of Leeds Guy Kearl, KC, told Rycroft his long record of driving offences meant his behaviour that night was 'predictable and entirely within character'. 

Rycroft admitted manslaughter, dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen. He will serve two-thirds of his ten-year jail term behind bars and was banned from driving for nine years and seven months.

The court heard Callum adored his father, followed him everywhere and 'worshipped the ground he walked on.'

Ms Bancroft previously said Rycroft was 'someone he trusted the most and should have kept him safe.' 

Callum's heartbroken mother applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for funds to help cover funeral expenses and counselling.

She hoped to create a memorial to Callum, but the government body, which oversees the scheme designed to compensate victims of crime, twice rejected her application.

It claimed Ms Bancroft, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, was not entitled to compensation because the nature of Callum's death was not violent.

But a tribunal has now ruled violence was a factor after she appealed the decision, meaning she is now be eligible for a payout, the figure of which is yet to be agreed.

The decision has set a precedent defining what an act of violence is under the scheme, potentially allowing more people access to justice, lawyers say.

'The original decision by CICA just added the tremendous pain we wake with each day.

'This isn't about money but trying to support my family so we can remember Callum but also so we can try and start the process of attempting to come to terms with Callum's death.

'Nothing will ever compensate us for Callum's loss, but I'm pleased that the tribunal has seen sense. My focus is now on trying to repair our family as much as I can.'

Sarah Brumpton, a specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, which represented Claire, said: 'Understandably Claire remains devastated by Callum's death and the tragic circumstances surrounding it.

'She hoped that an award from CICA would at least allow her to access the specialist support she requires to try and rebuild her life.

'However, the decision to reject her award, we believe was not only unjust, but also added to the hurt and pain she's been through.

'While CICA tried to argue that Callum's dad abandoning him on the motorway should be considered in isolation, we argued that the entire sequence of events that led to Callum losing his life should be considered.

'Callum hadn't found himself in the middle of a busy motorway by choice. He had been shouted and sworn at and manhandled.

'He was forced to walk up the motorway and in phone calls to his grandparents, mum and police, Callum could be heard telling his dad to get off him.

'What happened was violent in its very nature and we're pleased that the tribunal recognised this

'Not only is the decision a victory for Claire but crucially it clarifies a key area of the CICA scheme.

'The case will change the way CICA defines a crime of violence and will hopefully prevent other families having to experience further heartache as Claire did by applications being rejected.'