Driver watching TikTok as he crashed into traffic on A12 in Essex, killing father-of-two, is jailed

A driver who was watching TikTok videos as he ploughed into the back of queueing traffic, killing a father-of-two, has been jailed for eight years.

Ismaeel Malik tried to claim the brakes had failed on his black Mercedes after he travelled along the A12 at 70mph in October 2024.

But police found evidence that the 22-year-old had been using multiple mobile phone apps - including WhatsApp, Twitter and Ways - with 94 interactions taking place while he was driving in the two hours leading up to the crash.

TikTok was launched 22 times during that period and was open at the time of the crash - before being closed three minutes later at 9.33am.

Malik, of Bledlow Ridge, High Wycombe, admitted causing the death of 58-year-old Norman Case by dangerous driving during a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court in March.

During his sentencing, Her Honour Judge Mary Loram KC said footage from the dashcam of a HGV approaching traffic at the same time showed how "blindingly obvious" it would be "to anyone paying the most minimal of attention".

Despite traffic all around him having time to slow down, Malik continued moving at 70mph for five seconds before crashing into the back of Mr Case's grey VW Polo on the A12 at Kelvedon.

The victim's car was forced into the back of a grey Mercedes CLA. He was declared dead, following a serious head injury, around 10.30am.

Witnesses reported seeing the black Mercedes driving past them "at speed" showing "no reduction in speed, no break lights".

One driver, who said he was "traumatised by what I saw", added: "There was ample time for me to slow the pace of my vehicle safely."

Following the crash, Malik told police his brake pads had been "an issue for two days but I've had no money to fit it", insisting: "I was breaking but it wasn't breaking properly.

"It wasn't last minute, I had enough time to do an emegency stop but it just wasn't working as normal."

But the court heard an examination of the car's braking system found it was operational and there was no evidence of a defect.

Mr Case had grown up in west London before moving to Tolleshunt Major, near Chelmsford, in 2006 to marry his wife.

In a victim impact statement, Sarah Case, Mr Case's wife, told Chelmsford Crown Court that "everybody loves Norm".

"He had a smile that lit up every room, and had time for everyone," she said.

"The moments when I’m alone at home are the worst... All I can think about is the last moments of his life.

"Did he feel pain? What were his last thoughts? Did he know how much his family loved him?"Mr Case's son Norman was a few months away from sitting his GCSEs when the crash happened.

He told the court he had been at school when he heard his father had died.

"Since the death of my Dad things have become extremely tough," he said. "I saw Dad as my best friend and I don’t know if I will ever recover knowing he won’t be physically present again."

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