The heartbroken mother of a six-year-old boy who was killed by an uninsured drink and drug-driver has died.
Grief-stricken Gemma Painter, 29, died ‘peacefully’ at home just 16 months after her beloved son Leo was killed in a devastating crash outside his school in Spetchley, Worcester.
Leo, who had been in foster care but was due to move back in with his mother a month later, died alongside two other women when drink-driver Joe-Lewis Tyler ploughed into the taxi they were in on February 22 last year.
Tyler downed five pints of lager and four shots of Sambuca and Jagerbombs and took cocaine and cannabis in a pub before he got behind the wheel of a stolen BMW 3 Series after being kicked out for rowdy behaviour.
The 34-year-old, who was uninsured, was driving at about 90mph in a 50mph area before he smashed into the white Ford Mondeo taxi driven by Courtney Hemming, 26, as she pulled out of the entrance to Abigail’s Place School.
Ms Hemming, 26, and mother-of-three Claire Adkins, 39, who was escorting Leo from school to his foster home, were killed instantly. Leo was rushed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital but died from his injuries.
Tyler was jailed for 18 years last August in a sentence described by West Mercia Police as ‘unprecedented’, however the victims’ families were left ‘disgusted’.
In a heartbreaking twist, Leo was due to move out of foster care and be reunited with his mother the month after he was killed.
Gemma Painter (pictured), 29, was left devastated following the tragic death of her young son Leo on February 22 last year
Leo, who was in foster care at the time of his death, had just been picked up from Abigail’s Place School in a taxi when drink driver Joe-Lewis Tyler, 34, ploughed into the vehicle
Joe-Lewis Tyler (pictured) was handed an 18-year sentence last August
The mother, who battled mental health problems following his death, died ‘peacefully’ at home on June 30, her loved ones have revealed.
Last February, Gemma had paid a poignant tribute to her PAW Patrol-loving son.
She said: ‘He always had a smile on his face and was a bundle of fun. I’m heartbroken that I won’t see him again.
‘He loved PAW Patrol and I gave him a pair of pyjamas with his favourite characters on.
‘He said he loved wearing ‘Mummy’s pyjamas’.’
Gemma’s grieving family paid tribute to her and revealed she has saved four people through organ donations.
Her sister Kenzie Beck said: ‘She’ll be greatly missed by many people.
‘She was always kind and caring and would always stick up for anyone.
‘I think it’s nice to know that so many people loved and cared about her. She’s gone on to save four people in organ donations.’
Her friend Beth Munden is now organising a fun day event to raise money for Gemma’s funeral and raise awareness about mental health.
She said: ‘Sadly on Monday 30th June 2025, Gemma passed away peacefully.
‘She was the life of the party. She was hilarious.
Gemma and Leo Painter are pictured in happier times. Gemma has died 16 months after her son’s death
Pictured: Tyler’s car seen travelling at high speed moments before the crash
Shocking CCTV shows the moment the grey BMW ploughed into the white Ford Mondeo with such force it span 180 degrees and ended up on a grass verge
‘You could be having your worst day possible, and you could be speaking to Gemma, and you’d feel alright again.
‘She’d rather help out other people than help herself’.
A GoFundMe page has so far raised more than £2,700.
An inquest into her death will take place next March.
Tyler was jailed for 18 years at Worcester Crown Court last August.
He had earlier admitted three counts of both causing death by dangerous driving and driving while uninsured.
The court heard he revealed he had up to 215 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood – the legal limit being 80ml.
Blood tests also showed high levels of cocaine and cannabis in his system.
Flowers and soft toys were laid at the scene of a fatal crash on the A44 – Spetchley Road
The tragedy came as Gemma was looking forward to Leo moving out of foster care and coming to live with her again. Pictured: Floral tributes left at the scene
The court heard Tyler had been drinking with pal Miles Smith-Green in the West Midlands Tavern in Worcester, winning £100 on the fruit machines.
The pair drank five pints of lager and four shots of Sambuca and Jagerbombs before being told to leave the pub for being rowdy.
They then got into the stolen BMW and, without wearing seatbelts, drove at high speed towards Badsey, Evesham, Worcs.
One driver said the car was travelling so fast she was ‘fearful for her safety’ while another said Tyler almost hit her car at 100mph.
She described the terrifying near-miss as a ‘near death experience’.
Another said Tyler was ‘driving like an idiot’ and had a ‘death wish’.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge James Burbidge told Tyler: ‘Your actions have had a devastating effect on the victims as a result of your dangerous and selfish actions. They will remain bereft.’
