Hit and run driver free to go...
Discussion
Free to go: driver who left body of 23-year-old dad in undergrowth by A31 escapes jail
To me this seams like a very lenient sentence, a man lost his life and the driver didn't even stop...
Even if the collision was un-avoidable the the driver should have had the decency to stop, report the accident and call an Ambulance. Instead he left the guy in the undergrowth, where he remained un-discovered for over 24 hours.
Who knows - if he had stopped the young lad might have survived...
To me this seams like a very lenient sentence, a man lost his life and the driver didn't even stop...
Even if the collision was un-avoidable the the driver should have had the decency to stop, report the accident and call an Ambulance. Instead he left the guy in the undergrowth, where he remained un-discovered for over 24 hours.
Who knows - if he had stopped the young lad might have survived...
The starting point for that offence involving serious injury/death is a high level community order. It can range from a fine to 26 weeks in prison.
Was this example the very worst of this kind of offence? Probably not, so you ought not be looking towards the maximum. Was it more serious than the starting point? I'd say so.
In my own opinion, I'd have thought it a fine line between an immediate and a suspended sentence. On one hand I think there being a death encourages the need for a strong sentence, on the other, if the lad is an otherwise law abiding, employed citizen, there is little benefit in putting him in jail. Note he was not prosecuted over his driving but 'only' for his failure to stop and report an accident. It may be that had he stopped and done so, no prosecution would have taken place at all.
Was this example the very worst of this kind of offence? Probably not, so you ought not be looking towards the maximum. Was it more serious than the starting point? I'd say so.
In my own opinion, I'd have thought it a fine line between an immediate and a suspended sentence. On one hand I think there being a death encourages the need for a strong sentence, on the other, if the lad is an otherwise law abiding, employed citizen, there is little benefit in putting him in jail. Note he was not prosecuted over his driving but 'only' for his failure to stop and report an accident. It may be that had he stopped and done so, no prosecution would have taken place at all.
It is interesting the mention of the micro scooter and the mothers statement
We understand that members of the public may have something to say about my son riding a scooter on the road. They don't know the circumstances of why he was trying to get home to his family.
There is no law saying that he could not ride on the road, as you see people walking and cycling along this road.
So as the article doesn't mention that the lad was riding his micro scooter perfectly legally can we assume this was taken into account for the sentencing. Basically he shouldn't have been there?
We understand that members of the public may have something to say about my son riding a scooter on the road. They don't know the circumstances of why he was trying to get home to his family.
There is no law saying that he could not ride on the road, as you see people walking and cycling along this road.
So as the article doesn't mention that the lad was riding his micro scooter perfectly legally can we assume this was taken into account for the sentencing. Basically he shouldn't have been there?
The death isn't that relevant. He failed to stop and report an RTC. He shouldn't go to prison for that.
Alucidnation said:
But covering ones tracks is perfectly ok.
Lying to his partner doesn't really matter criminally. If he had continued to do this when being interviewed by the police, then he could have found himself facing more serious charges. barker22 said:
It is interesting the mention of the micro scooter and the mothers statement
We understand that members of the public may have something to say about my son riding a scooter on the road. They don't know the circumstances of why he was trying to get home to his family.
There is no law saying that he could not ride on the road, as you see people walking and cycling along this road.
So as the article doesn't mention that the lad was riding his micro scooter perfectly legally can we assume this was taken into account for the sentencing. Basically he shouldn't have been there?
The A31 is a dual carriageway and personally I try avoid it when cycling, riding a micro-scooter on it is pretty stupid, even at 6:00AM when it is usually very quiet.We understand that members of the public may have something to say about my son riding a scooter on the road. They don't know the circumstances of why he was trying to get home to his family.
There is no law saying that he could not ride on the road, as you see people walking and cycling along this road.
So as the article doesn't mention that the lad was riding his micro scooter perfectly legally can we assume this was taken into account for the sentencing. Basically he shouldn't have been there?
The thing I find sickening is that the driver left the guy in the ditch and didn't bother to stop. As I said even if the accident was unavoidable (i.e. entirely the guy on the micro-scooters fault) leaving the guy in the ditch is despicable - that was not an accident but a cold and calculated decision.
"Free to go" implies "unpunished".
He got a 3 month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He got community service and a fine.
He got banned for 6 months.
He was punished for not reporting the accident.
Not for killing the man on the scooter.
It seems sort of fair.
6am september, dual carriageway.
It's dark. The man on the scooter had no lights or reflectors mentioned.
Anyone driving that road could have hit him.
The difference would have been what we did next.
He got a 3 month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He got community service and a fine.
He got banned for 6 months.
He was punished for not reporting the accident.
Not for killing the man on the scooter.
It seems sort of fair.
6am september, dual carriageway.
It's dark. The man on the scooter had no lights or reflectors mentioned.
Anyone driving that road could have hit him.
The difference would have been what we did next.
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