Drink-driver killed his teenage girlfriend then gatecrashed her funeral

The family of a tragic teen have spoken of their horror after they were tormented by her drink-drive killer boyfriend who gatecrashed her funeral so he could take snaps for social media.

Demi Grewer was just 18 when she was killed in a horror crash after her boyfriend, Thomas Baird, drove home drunk from his 21st birthday because he didn't want to pay for a taxi.

Her devastated family asked her killer not to attend her funeral – instead he posted pictures of himself outside the church.

It was the start of a campain of social media torment that culminated in Baird filming himself laughing and joking as he walked into court.

The now 22-year-old has been jailed for four-and-half years for killing his girlfriend.

Demi’s devastated family have spoken for the first time of their loss – and described how Baird tormented them on social media following her death.

Her mum, Lindsay Donohue, says: “Since my daughter died, Tom Baird has tormented my family through social media.

“We asked him not to attend the funeral, but he posted pictures of himself outside the church.

“On the way to his trial, he filmed himself laughing and joking outside the court.

“His lack of remorse is beyond heart-breaking. He has shown no respect for Demi’s memory.

“I feel so angry towards him. I welcomed him into our family and he killed our daughter. I think the sentence is an absolute joke.”

Demi was the middle of Lindsay’s three daughters and the family was close.

Lindsay, 41, from Manchester, said: “I was a single mum and so we had a house full of girls.

"There was lots of bickering over clothes and make-up. Demi was forever pinching my clothes and it used to drive me mad.”

At 17, Demi, started work as a hairdresser and soon after she met her first boyfriend, Baird.

Lindsay said: “I thought Tom seemed nice, he was 20 and he said he had a job and he drove his mum’s car.

“Demi was besotted. She spent all her time with him. It seemed like a typical teenage romance.

“In May 2017, Demi turned 18 – and of course she borrowed my best dress for her birthday night out. She looked so beautiful, absolutely stunning.”

In July 2017, the family went on holiday to Bulgaria and Demi pleaded with Lindsay for Tom to come along.

Lindsay said: “I wasn’t sure at first, we didn’t know him all that well. But Demi was so desperate and so I gave in.

“The holiday went well, and we really welcomed Tom into the family.”

A week after they returned, Tom celebrated his 21st birthday and Demi was invited to celebrate.

Lindsay said: “They were going out with Tom’s family for a meal and then they were off to a local club.

“Tom’s father picked Demi up, and I told her to be careful. It never crossed my mind that Tom would be thinking of driving or I would not have let her go.

“I have always been strict with my daughters and I want to know when and how they’re getting home. Drink-driving is obviously a big no-no.”

Lindsay and her other two daughters, Shelly and Jade, spent a quiet night at home.

But at 3am, Lindsay was woken by police at the door, telling her Demi and Tom had been involved in a serious crash.

Lindsay said: “I insisted there had been some mistake. I told them that Tom’s dad was driving and there was no way Tom would have been driving at his 21st birthday party.”

Lindsay raced to hospital, where she was given the heartbreaking news that 18-year-old Demi was dead.

She said: “I was in shock. I was hysterical.

“The police told me that Tom had been driving and my first reaction was that it was his birthday and there was no way he should have driven a car.”

Baird had driven into a roundabout and hit a fence post and was said to have reached speeds of 70mph on 30 and 40mph roads.

He told police he tried to drive home because a taxi in the early hours would be too expensive.

Although Demi was wearing a seat-belt, she was fatally injured.

Lindsay said: “We were devastated. Her sisters just fell to pieces. I had seven months off work, I couldn’t face the world.”

After posting the cruel pictures outside the church where Demi's funeral was held, Baird also posted holiday pictures on Snapchat.

One image, of Baird with friends in Majorca, had the caption: "Just living our best lives."

An image of Baird on a beach was accompanied by the words: "When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let it go."

He also posted dozens of pictures of himself – often making a 'devil horns' gesture – on his social media channels.

Lindsay said: “Baird tormented us for months on social media. It was heartless. He showed no remorse.”

Last December, Baird filmed himself walking into Chester Crown Court, laughing and smirking.

Baird, now 22, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

The court heard he was found to be one-and-a-half times the drink drive limit.

Baird was seen 'stumbling' – unable to walk in a straight line – when he approached the car.

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