An Essex lorry driver who hit and killed a cyclist while speeding on the wrong side of the road has been sentenced to four years in prison. Justyn Ransley failed to stop after the collision and instead continued with his deliveries while attempting to source replacement parts for his vehicle.
Echo-news.co.uk reports that in the early hours of Thursday, December 1, 2016, Ransley hit cyclist Stephen Wightwick while driving on the wrong side of the road in Buckhurst Hill in Epping.
He had been driving at 43mph in what is a 30mph area.
Ransley didn’t stop and while he returned a few minutes later, he didn’t help Wightwick or call emergency services.
Instead, he left the cyclist lying seriously injured on the pavement alongside the bike and the truck’s wing mirror. He continued with his deliveries and used his phone to try and find replacement parts for the lorry, later telling his employers he’d hit a tree.
Police found the lorry in a compound in Basildon. Upon being arrested, Ransley said he had not seen Wightwick when he hit him and failed to stop.
Detective sergeant Peter Swan said: “On arrest, Ransley tried to claim black ice caused him to be on the wrong side of the road and he was unaware he’d hit a cyclist.
“It was only after we showed him CCTV footage from the previous two weeks, where he performed the same manoeuvre every time he drove that route and of him returning to the scene, that Ransley was left with no option but to admit his guilt.”
Ransley admitted causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to report a road traffic collision. He was given full credit for his early guilty plea.
As well as the prison sentence, Ransley was disqualified from driving for four years and will have to take an extended retest when he is released.
23 thoughts on “Lorry driver sentenced to four years in prison after hitting and killing cyclist while speeding on the wrong side of the road”
Full credit? You are of
Full credit? You are of course having a ……. laugh, your honour.
It is a good job that he is
It is a good job that he is banned from driving for four years. You wouldn’t want to find him driving his lorry whilst he is in prison would you?
I was wondering what the point of the 4 year ban was, but then I realised…he will no doubt be let out early but he will have to wait to drive legally, whatever deterrent that is.
Well done to the police for
Well done to the police for putting this murderer behind bars, even if the sentence is less than I for one, would wish. Being given full credit for admitting his guilt, but only after the police had invested considerable time and resources into proving it, is, in my opinion, unjustified. If he had admitted it before it was proved, then there might be a case for full credit, but admitting it after it has been proved should not get that.
Likewise, the four year driving ban is not justice, and I believe that drivers should lose their licence for double the time it takes their victim to recover, and in the case of them causing death, they never get to drive again.
How is the government’s enquiry into road law and justice going?
“It was only after we showed
“It was only after we showed him CCTV footage from the previous two weeks, where he performed the same manoeuvre every time he drove that route and of him returning to the scene, that Ransley was left with no option but to admit his guilt.” . . . How in the name of whatever deity you prefer, can that be classed as “his early guilty plea”… He pleaded guilty when shown complelling video evidence that he had been telling utter bovine excrement !
It’s also time for driving bans to start upon release from HMP Holidaycamp . . .
I thought the sentences took
I thought the sentences took into account aggravating factors. To see an injured person and have the audacity to call for spare parts instead of alerting emergency services shows such disdain for the cyclist that this sentence is woefully inadequate.
I know the bicycle brigade
I know the bicycle brigade can get very upset over the sentences given which I sometimes think we forget that sadly sometimes accidents happen but this one really is a pathetic sentence, he commited multiple offences including speeding, wrong side of road, etc. and that is even before you get to the fact he tried to cover up that he had hit and utlimately killed someone.
embattle wrote:
Let your mask slip a tad there, didn’t you, Trolly McTrollface?
davel wrote:
bicycle brigade
— davel Let your mask slip a tad there, didn’t you, Trolly McTrollface?— embattle
Not really McWhinge.
embattle wrote:
That was a disappointing comeback. It’s Friday night. That would’ve been shit on a Tuesday.
embattle wrote:
Here is your reaction. That’s all you really wanted.
embattle wrote:
They are almost never “an accident”. They are almost always the result of one or more of stupidity, carelessness, dangerous driving, inattention, road rage, etc.
I hadn’t realised that I was
I hadn’t realised that I was part of a brigade! How thrilling!
barbarus wrote:
I don’t want to rain on your parade, but who exactly, is the brigadier?
burtthebike wrote:
I don’t want to rain on your parade, but who exactly, is the brigadier?— barbarus
Sir Chris Boardman perhaps, if he isn’t too busy being President of the Secret Squirrel Club.
Bugles ready!
burtthebike wrote:
I don’t want to rain on your parade, but who exactly, is the brigadier?— barbarus
http://www.doctorwho.tv/brand/assets/old-brand/img/profile-heros/the-brigadier.png?v=2
How does the judge get to
How does the judge get to such a low tariff, typical bs giving ‘credit’ where none is due!
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
Well it is widely available, in essence it results in saving time and money but for such a weak original sentence it just makes it worse.
http://thejusticegap.com/2017/03/beware-new-early-guilty-plea-sentencing-guidelines/
Pretty much looks like I’d
Pretty much looks like I’d expect a ‘Justyn’ to look.
Why is there any need to seek
Why is there any need to seek a more severe sentence than the 14 years which has never been imposed. Ever?
What a scumbag. Only
What a scumbag. Only admitting it when he absolutely had to.
If you hit and run a cyclist or pedestrian you should lose your licence forever. You’re not a decent person.
My local paper says he lives
My local paper says he lives in Cunningham Close, Shoeburyness
I think they need to replace the 2nd ‘n’ with a ‘t’ in his case.
Speeding and dangerous
Speeding and dangerous driving
Killing someone
Leaving the scene and a man dying
Trying to cover up your crime
What in heavens name do you have to do to get the maximum sentence?
I simply cannot understand
I simply cannot understand the leniency of that sentence.