Man changes plea to guilty in death by dangerous driving of Emily Jordan

Matthew McGrath, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of Emily Jordan by dangerous driving, after previously pleading not guilty to the charge and only pleading guilty to the lesser charge of causing her death by careless driving.

Emily Jordan was only 20 years old (Photo: Family Handout)

Matthew McGrath, of Winscombe, was charged with causing the death of Emily Jordan in September 2024 after a car crash on Kewstoke Road in Weston-super-Mare.

McGrath appeared at Bristol Crown Court on October 10th 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

He did plead guilty to a separate charge of causing death by careless driving, and subsequently His Honour Judge Picton gave McGrath an interim driving ban.

The prosecution did not accept the request to change the charge from 'dangerous' to 'careless' and a trial was scheduled to take place on September 7 2026.

However, during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Monday 6th July, McGrath altered his plea to guilty.

Sentencing is due to take place on Friday 14th August

Family and friends will gather at the court on the day of sentencing wearing green which was Emily’s favourite colour