EXCLUSIVE
A driver who fled a crash scene after killing two teenagers while travelling more than 45km/h over the speed limit has finally admitted his guilt.
Nicholas Thew had recently been released from jail and had never held a licence when he slammed a Ford Falcon sedan into a power pole and a tree in Sydney’s south-west on November 6, 2023.
Two of 28-year-old Thew’s passengers – best friends aged 13 and 14 – were killed in the crash which occurred about 10.50am outside a home on Maxwells Avenue at Ashcroft.
One boy’s body was thrown about 5m upon impact while the other remained in the back half of the car, which had been torn in two.
Thew and a third passenger, 23-year-old Anthony Morris, were captured on CCTV leaving the site on foot before emergency services arrived at the scene.
The boys had known both Thew and Morris but cannot be named due to NSW laws which prevent identifying juvenile victims of crime.
CCTV footage showed Thew pulling himself from the wreckage of the car and walking past the body of one of the boys’ bodies on the ground.
He pulled the second boy from the separated back half of the vehicle and left him lying on the lawn.
Nicholas Thew (above) had recently been released from jail and had never held a licence when he slammed a Ford Falcon sedan into a power pole and a tree in Sydney ‘s south-west on November 6, 2023. Two passengers aged 13 and 14 were killed
Thew helped Morris climb out of the Falcon and checked on the boy who had been thrown across the yard. He then fled the crash site with Morris.
One of the men could be heard yelling to the other ‘I wanna go home’.
A local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia they saw the Falcon being driven erratically in the moments leading up to the crash.
‘They were speeding,’ the witness said. ‘Doing skids and handbrake turns.’
Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden had urged Thew and Morris to present themselves to a police station at the time.
‘The absolute destruction that has taken place… and the loss of two young lives, being ejected from that vehicle,’ Mr McFadden said.
‘Anyone who would have witnessed that crash would have no doubt been traumatised by it.’
Thew and Morris were arrested a day after the crash and taken to Liverpool Hospital.
Thew was captured on CCTV (above) leaving the scene of a fatal car crash he caused before emergency services arrived at the scene
‘Anyone who would have witnessed that crash would have no doubt been traumatised by it.,’ said Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden
The dead boys’ families released a brief joint statement statement that evening.
‘Both of our families are still in shock and devastated over yesterday’s tragic crash,’ they said.
‘We are continuing to come to terms with the loss of our much-loved son and brother.’
Thew, from Sadleir in Sydney’s south-west, was charged with 10 offences and has been refused bail since his arrest. Morris was not charged and is not accused of any wrongdoing.
When Thew faced Campbelltown Local Court last September members of the dead boys’ families attended the proceedings wearing T-shirts calling for justice.
Thew pleaded guilty in December to two counts of aggravated driving occasioning death while speeding at more than 45km/h over the limit.
He will also be sentenced for two counts of failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, and driving without ever having held a licence.
Two charges of dangerous driving occasioning death, two of negligent driving causing death and one of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle were withdrawn and dismissed.
One boy’s body was thrown about 5m upon impact while the other remained in the back half of the car, which had been torn in two. The crashed Ford Falcon is pictured
Thew has long criminal history and has served prison terms for rape and domestic violence offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
In September 2022 he was sentenced in Campbelltown District Court to 13 months behind bars for two counts of contravening a restraining order and one of resisting arrest.
He was released in June 2023 at the end of his minimum nine-month term, just five months before killing the boys.
In November 2021, Thew was convicted in Campbelltown Local Court of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and jailed for a year with a minimum seven months.
At the same time he was sentenced to five months in prison for being armed with the intent of committing an indictable offence and fined $500 for possessing drugs.
Thew had previously been jailed for six months in August 2017 after being convicted in Parramatta District Court of assault.
Five months earlier he was sentenced in Gosford District Court to four years and six months in prison with a non-parole period of three years for having sexual intercourse without consent.
Thew pleaded guilty in December to two counts of aggravated driving occasioning death while speeding at more than 45km/h over the limit. A memorial at the crash site is pictured
In September 2016, Thew was jailed for a year with a minimum eight months after he was convicted in Orange Local Court of common assault.
In December 2015 he was convicted in Campbelltown District Court of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
For that offence Thew was jailed for two years and five months with a non-parole term of one year and two months.
Thew will face a sentencing hearing at Campbelltown District Court on March 18.
