The family of Michael Ramstedt, a beloved school caretaker and father-of-four from Shurdington, Cheltenham, have expressed profound anger and disappointment following the sentencing of the driver responsible for the crash that claimed his life over two years ago.
Michael Ramstedt tragically died at the scene when his vehicle was struck by a car driven by Nuno Gouveia, who had veered onto the wrong side of the road at Birdlip. The 32-year-old from Chipping Street, Tetbury, admitted to causing death by careless and inconsiderate driving, citing distraction from his satnav as the cause.
On 19 August, Cheltenham magistrates handed Gouveia an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, alongside a 12-month driving ban, a fine of £272, and an order to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work.
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Mr Ramstedt’s family feel the punishment does not align with the severity of the loss they have endured. His widow, Livia, shared a heartfelt statement on social media: “For everyone else, this may be a court case and a sentence. For me and my family, this is our life. Michael died, and we have had to live with that loss every single day. After nearly two years of waiting for some sense of justice, an eight-month sentence suspended for two years, 150 hours of community service and costs feels incredibly difficult to comprehend.”
She added, “Nothing could ever bring Michael back, and no sentence could undo what happened. But I had hoped the consequences would reflect the devastating and permanent consequences of losing a life. Thank you to everyone who has shown support and who understands why this sentence is so deeply upsetting.”
Keith Harris, Mr Ramstedt’s son, who attended the sentencing, voiced his frustration over the duration of proceedings and the perceived leniency of the sentence. “I’m just so angry. The fact that it took two years. I’m not that bothered about the prison sentence but the one-year driving ban. That’s ridiculous. His licence should have been taken away for five to 10 years to make people understand that being able to have one is a privilege, not an expectation.”
Mr Harris recounted that the collision occurred at around 5.30am as his father was en route to Sladewood Academy in Stroud, where he was employed as a caretaker. The crash left Mr Ramstedt with fatal injuries, whereas Gouveia was unharmed. Evidence showed Gouveia’s Nissan Qashqai crossed into the opposite lane and collided with Mr Ramstedt’s Kia Picanto, which subsequently came to rest against a tree.
A spokesperson for the Sentencing Council highlighted the impact of recent legislation, noting a presumption to suspend short prison sentences under the Sentencing Act 2026.
Gloucestershire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Team, represented by Police Staff Investigator Hannah Moore, underscored the seriousness of distracted driving: “Being distracted behind the wheel is not only completely unacceptable and reckless, but puts lives at risk as we sadly saw in this case. Concentrating on the road is far more important when it comes to keeping you and other road users safe.”
In a victim impact statement shared through the police, Livia spoke movingly about the enduring pain of losing her husband: “Losing Michael was the hardest thing we experienced. There is no-one and nothing who can ever replace him or the things he did for us all. I cannot just delete 28 years of marriage; I lived most of my life with him and having to live without him is incredibly difficult. I lost my soulmate and other half, and nothing can bring him back. I still have the video of him leaving for work that morning; I cannot bring myself to delete it as it is the last memory I have. He was the most selfless, loving and affectionate person. I believe he did not deserve to die like that. We miss him so much and would do anything to have him back with us.”
Previously, the Ramstedt family paid tribute describing Michael as a devoted father to his two sons and two daughters, and a doting grandfather to eight grandchildren, born in Gloucester and raised in Cheltenham.
The family continues to seek meaningful justice after a loss that has deeply affected their lives.