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Cement mixer driver jailed for causing death of Northamptonshire cyclist through careless driving

In a separate case, an Aberdeen driver has been ordered to carry out unpaid work after pleading guilty to the same offence

The driver of a cement mixer has been jailed for six months and banned from driving for 27 months after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving.

The BBC reports that Vincent Taylor hit 74-year-old Michael Bloom on the A361 near Aston le Walls with footage of the incident captured by his vehicle’s dashboard camera.

Bloom, who was described as a ‘vastly experienced cyclist’, was said to have sustained massive pelvic injuries and died of organ failure.

Jonathan Straw, prosecuting, told Northamptonshire Crown Court: "The dashcam shows Mr Bloom is about to turn right into the road. He is clearly demonstrating that he is heading towards the village of Aston le Walls."

Sentencing, Judge Rupert Mayo made reference to cyclists being vulnerable road users and said that as the driver of a lorry, Taylor should have slowed to allow Bloom to turn.

Also yesterday, a driver was sentenced to 225 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for three years after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Stephen Cocker lost control of his BMW while overtaking a bus and hit 32-year-old Neil Jaffrey on North Anderson Drive in September 2014.

Defence agent David Sutherland said the "split second" decision Cocker had taken had left him racked with "regret, sorrow and deep remorse," and added: "Mr Cocker knows what happened that day will live with him for the rest of his life. He lives with this moment every waking minute."

Although conditions were described as ‘unremarkable’ and Cocker was said not to have been travelling at excessive speed, he mounted the central reservation then travelled across the northbound carriageway before hitting Jaffrey.

Sheriff William Summers said he felt that jail was not the most appropriate way to deal with the case, adding: "It goes without saying that Mr Jaffrey's family will feel their loss for the rest of their lives. This is a sad and tragic case for all concerned."

Inconsistency in sentencing is one of the main issues repeatedly raised in Cycling UK's Road Justice campaign.

The previous Justice Secretary, Chris Grayling, announced that there was to be a review of motoring offences and penalties in May 2014. However, there is uncertainty over whether this will ever take place.

In February, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Andrew Selous, said that sentencing in such cases would be considered under a wider consultation of all criminal offences which he said would begin by the end of this year.

A consultation on tougher sentencing for those convicted of dangerous driving was widely expected to appear in the Queen’s speech in May, but campaigners were left disappointed when it failed to get a mention.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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5 comments

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bendertherobot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Once again the Judge is criticised with zero reference to the existing guidelines.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/web_causing_deat...

I have to say, from the reporting of this case, I cannot understand the mechanics of it.

Avatar
Housecathst | 7 years ago
3 likes

I'm not sure that's totally true, pedestrians regularly get zero justice when killed by a motorist. 

I think both cyclist and pedestrians get a shitty deal from the uk courts 

Avatar
severs1966 | 7 years ago
1 like

In our country, you can kill and be entirely at fault, with no prior conditions that prompt the killing, and no contributory factors that can be used as mitigation...But not pay a fine nor be imprisoned.

What insanity is this?

It is because the victim was on a bicycle. This alone reduced the value of the victim's life, in the eyes of the sentencing judge. He alone judged the victim's life to be near to worthless, and it was because, for that fleeting moment, the victim was aboard a bicycle.

Had the offender hit a pedestrian, or another motorist, there would have been jail time. However, the courts have decided that it is OK to kill people if they are on a bike.

A sane person would argue that this reasoning cannot, cannot, cannot be the case. But what other explanation can be found? In what way can this ludicrous slap on the wrist with a feather be framed to suggest that justice was served?

I am tempted to believe that the sentencing judge is some sort of anti-cycling sociopath.

Avatar
Mungecrundle replied to severs1966 | 7 years ago
1 like

severs1966 wrote:

In our country, you can kill and be entirely at fault, with no prior conditions that prompt the killing, and no contributory factors that can be used as mitigation...But not pay a fine nor be imprisoned.

What insanity is this?

It is because the victim was on a bicycle. This alone reduced the value of the victim's life, in the eyes of the sentencing judge. He alone judged the victim's life to be near to worthless, and it was because, for that fleeting moment, the victim was aboard a bicycle.

Had the offender hit a pedestrian, or another motorist, there would have been jail time. However, the courts have decided that it is OK to kill people if they are on a bike.

A sane person would argue that this reasoning cannot, cannot, cannot be the case. But what other explanation can be found? In what way can this ludicrous slap on the wrist with a feather be framed to suggest that justice was served?

I am tempted to believe that the sentencing judge is some sort of anti-cycling sociopath.

 

You are, unfortunately, completely wrong. Most victims of driver induced sudden death are utterly failed by the justice system, be they; cyclists, pedestrians, passengers or other drivers.

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
7 likes

Loss of liberty for some period of time should be the minimum sentence for killing someone to show that we do place a high price on the value of human life. People in jail for drugs and theft but killing someone gets you a bit of community service.

 

 

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