5 years for stopping to help PLEASE READ!
11 July 2005, 09:09 PM
#61
Originally Posted by cheddar bob
[Disclaimer - Don't know enough of the facts as has been mentioned but from what I've read:]
I think that the punishment is way too harsh, no question he should be banned or disqualified for dangerous driving/speeding/racing but can't believe he got 5 years
One things for sure if an unmarked police car was closely following a speeding motorist and 'egging them on' or encouraging them to speed more (which i've witnessed on more than one occassion) making them think it's:
a) a race
Or
b) some 'dodgy' car or driver
Which in turn makes them uncomfortable and (or want to) drive faster possibly past there own limits, then they lose control or whatever, crash and die would the officer 'chasing/tailing' get this punishment...
They'd probably get off without any points or disciplining at all
It's the same principle though as this incident (what we know of it anyway
)
It's appears this may be just another example of what a state the justice system is in
I think that the punishment is way too harsh, no question he should be banned or disqualified for dangerous driving/speeding/racing but can't believe he got 5 years
One things for sure if an unmarked police car was closely following a speeding motorist and 'egging them on' or encouraging them to speed more (which i've witnessed on more than one occassion) making them think it's:
a) a race
Or
b) some 'dodgy' car or driver
Which in turn makes them uncomfortable and (or want to) drive faster possibly past there own limits, then they lose control or whatever, crash and die would the officer 'chasing/tailing' get this punishment...
They'd probably get off without any points or disciplining at all
It's the same principle though as this incident (what we know of it anyway
)It's appears this may be just another example of what a state the justice system is in
11 July 2005, 11:45 PM
#62
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A RACE TO THE DEATH
SENTINEL REPORTER
12:00 - 05 July 2005
A 21-year-old who caused the deaths of two teenagers by racing them at speeds of around 100mph along the A500 has been jailed for five years. Stephen Jackson had been racing 18-year-old Leon Hughes when the Burslem teenager lost control of his Ford Fiesta, hit a tree and died from head and neck injuries.
His 17-year-old front-seat passenger John Hancock, of Marshall Avenue, Brown Edge, also died in the smash in the early hours of August 18 - just two days after Jackson had been convicted of speeding.
Another passenger, Lee Scarlett, survived the crash.
Yesterday, Jackson, of Heathcote Road, Miles Green, near Newcastle, was jailed after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Jackson had been driving a new Nissan sports car capable of going from 0 to 60mph in six-and-a-half seconds, reaching a maximum of 140mph at the time of the accident.
Peter Carr, prosecuting, told the court that Jackson had picked up his brother Christopher and his brother's fiancee Louise at 3pm and driven to Festival Park. Between 12.25am and 12.45am, the Nissan and Fiesta were seen on CCTV driving around Festival Park together, and left for the A500 at 1.20am.
A taxi driver who saw part of the race told police they had been travelling at around 100mph.
Mr Carr said Mr Hughes's vehicle had a severely under-inflated rear tyre which, combined with the high speed race, contributed to his loss of control.
As his car started to spin, he is thought to have overcompensated when steering against it, and ended up hitting a tree.
A toxicology report showed neither Jackson nor Mr Hughes, of Wilson Street, Burslem, had been drinking or taking drugs beforehand.
Richard Gray, defending, said: "What we have here between two young and probably immature men is a moment of madness and certainly an equal degree of culpability in the race down the A500.
"The defendant at no time tried to overtake, but he accepts by his plea that he encouraged an excess of speed between the two."
Mr Gray added that Jackson had shown "maturity, compassion and presence of mind" to stop at the scene and encourage his brother to phone for an ambulance.
He said Jackson apologised "unreservedly" to the families of the dead teenagers.
Jailing Jackson and imposing a three-year driving ban, Judge Paul Glenn told him: "It was wet at the time and you knew the danger of this stretch of road, but despite this you raced against a smaller, less powerful car, encouraging Mr Hughes to drive faster when he had an under-inflated tyre.
"The plain and simple fact is that, had you not chosen to race him, he would not have driven as he did. I'm afraid that racing is a feature of high culpability in this case.
"The aftermath is that two men tragically lost their lives and no sentence a court can impose can compensate for that loss of life."
After the hearing, Mr Hughes's parents John and Mandy Hughes, spoke of their devastation.
Mrs Hughes, aged 42, said: "It's been a tragic loss of two lives and I wish somebody would learn from it. I'm devastated, it's a life sentence for both sets of families. We've been left with a void and we can only hope other young drivers will learn."
Sergeant Steve Kent, of Staffordshire Police, said young drivers should take more responsibility for their actions.
He said: "For five minutes of fun it is not worth it. The consequences of your driving can affect people for the rest of their lives."
Mr Scarlett, of Fairfield Avenue, Brown Edge, declined to comment about the accident which killed his friends.
SENTINEL REPORTER
12:00 - 05 July 2005
A 21-year-old who caused the deaths of two teenagers by racing them at speeds of around 100mph along the A500 has been jailed for five years. Stephen Jackson had been racing 18-year-old Leon Hughes when the Burslem teenager lost control of his Ford Fiesta, hit a tree and died from head and neck injuries.
His 17-year-old front-seat passenger John Hancock, of Marshall Avenue, Brown Edge, also died in the smash in the early hours of August 18 - just two days after Jackson had been convicted of speeding.
Another passenger, Lee Scarlett, survived the crash.
Yesterday, Jackson, of Heathcote Road, Miles Green, near Newcastle, was jailed after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how Jackson had been driving a new Nissan sports car capable of going from 0 to 60mph in six-and-a-half seconds, reaching a maximum of 140mph at the time of the accident.
Peter Carr, prosecuting, told the court that Jackson had picked up his brother Christopher and his brother's fiancee Louise at 3pm and driven to Festival Park. Between 12.25am and 12.45am, the Nissan and Fiesta were seen on CCTV driving around Festival Park together, and left for the A500 at 1.20am.
A taxi driver who saw part of the race told police they had been travelling at around 100mph.
Mr Carr said Mr Hughes's vehicle had a severely under-inflated rear tyre which, combined with the high speed race, contributed to his loss of control.
As his car started to spin, he is thought to have overcompensated when steering against it, and ended up hitting a tree.
A toxicology report showed neither Jackson nor Mr Hughes, of Wilson Street, Burslem, had been drinking or taking drugs beforehand.
Richard Gray, defending, said: "What we have here between two young and probably immature men is a moment of madness and certainly an equal degree of culpability in the race down the A500.
"The defendant at no time tried to overtake, but he accepts by his plea that he encouraged an excess of speed between the two."
Mr Gray added that Jackson had shown "maturity, compassion and presence of mind" to stop at the scene and encourage his brother to phone for an ambulance.
He said Jackson apologised "unreservedly" to the families of the dead teenagers.
Jailing Jackson and imposing a three-year driving ban, Judge Paul Glenn told him: "It was wet at the time and you knew the danger of this stretch of road, but despite this you raced against a smaller, less powerful car, encouraging Mr Hughes to drive faster when he had an under-inflated tyre.
"The plain and simple fact is that, had you not chosen to race him, he would not have driven as he did. I'm afraid that racing is a feature of high culpability in this case.
"The aftermath is that two men tragically lost their lives and no sentence a court can impose can compensate for that loss of life."
After the hearing, Mr Hughes's parents John and Mandy Hughes, spoke of their devastation.
Mrs Hughes, aged 42, said: "It's been a tragic loss of two lives and I wish somebody would learn from it. I'm devastated, it's a life sentence for both sets of families. We've been left with a void and we can only hope other young drivers will learn."
Sergeant Steve Kent, of Staffordshire Police, said young drivers should take more responsibility for their actions.
He said: "For five minutes of fun it is not worth it. The consequences of your driving can affect people for the rest of their lives."
Mr Scarlett, of Fairfield Avenue, Brown Edge, declined to comment about the accident which killed his friends.
12 July 2005, 09:22 AM
#63
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"Jailing Jackson and imposing a three-year driving ban, Judge Paul Glenn told him: "It was wet at the time and you knew the danger of this stretch of road, but despite this you raced against a smaller, less powerful car, encouraging Mr Hughes to drive faster when he had an under-inflated tyre."
How can you hold a driver responsible for someone else's tyre pressures?
How can you hold a driver responsible for someone else's tyre pressures?
12 July 2005, 10:03 AM
#64
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I get people wanting to 'race' me quite often. I've even had some lads in another Impreza stop at some lights then reverse, open the rear door and ask me if I want to race. I obviously said no. The thing is that if I had chosen to then it was through my own actions that any following incidents would have occured. I would not want the other person to be considered responsible. You have the choice to just drive on as normal and ignore the other car.
12 July 2005, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Andrew Timmins
"Jailing Jackson and imposing a three-year driving ban, Judge Paul Glenn told him: "It was wet at the time and you knew the danger of this stretch of road, but despite this you raced against a smaller, less powerful car, encouraging Mr Hughes to drive faster when he had an under-inflated tyre."
How can you hold a driver responsible for someone else's tyre pressures?
How can you hold a driver responsible for someone else's tyre pressures?
he isnt, he's saying it was a factor.
if i beat up a blind woman with no legs and a lisp i will get im more trouble than if i beat up a 7ft hulk.............doesnt mean i am responsible for her lisp!
12 July 2005, 10:28 AM
#66
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Originally Posted by Tiggs
he isnt, he's saying it was a factor.
if i beat up a blind woman with no legs and a lisp i will get im more trouble than if i beat up a 7ft hulk.............doesnt mean i am responsible for her lisp!
if i beat up a blind woman with no legs and a lisp i will get im more trouble than if i beat up a 7ft hulk.............doesnt mean i am responsible for her lisp!
12 July 2005, 10:35 AM
#67
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5 yrs for driving too fast
community rehabilitation for attempting to rape a 3 year old child
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/4673151.stm
community rehabilitation for attempting to rape a 3 year old child
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/4673151.stm
12 July 2005, 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Cold Turkey
5 yrs for driving too fast
community rehabilitation for attempting to rape a 3 year old child
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/4673151.stm
community rehabilitation for attempting to rape a 3 year old child
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/4673151.stm
its not driving too fast...its being involved in their deaths. while the rape case is shocking if you want to compare results you have 2 dead people V an attempted rape.
12 July 2005, 10:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Tiggs
its not driving too fast...its being involved in their deaths. while the rape case is shocking if you want to compare results you have 2 dead people V an attempted rape.
12 July 2005, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by Cold Turkey
I can empathise with the driver ... not the rapist ... each to their own I suppose
ahh, never having rape someone or raced at 100mph + on the road i cant empathise with either.
T
12 July 2005, 11:05 AM
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The whole scenario makes me think, if the driver of the fiesta had lived; it would be he that would be up for the 5 year stretch and not the following sx driver.
But coz he also died, the sx driver copped the lot.
Dont really understand how all the blame can be transferred just coz nothing happened to him.
But coz he also died, the sx driver copped the lot.
Dont really understand how all the blame can be transferred just coz nothing happened to him.
12 July 2005, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Tiggs
ahh, never having rape someone or raced at 100mph + on the road i cant empathise with either.
T
T
12 July 2005, 11:25 AM
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It's irresponsible to race but this seems OTT to me. If I was overtaking someone at reasonable speeds on a dual carriageway and they slewed off the road for an unassociated reason (changing cd, drop *** end in lap) as I passed, what happens if some old codger behind says, "Ooh yeah, that guy was racing him, I saw him overtaking," would I be facing 5 years? I'd like to think not.
There must have been more than the circumstancial evidence of him just being there to have prompted his confession.
All the same, the Fiesta driver bears much more of the responsibility as far as I'm concerned, not just for the tyre pressure. The SX driver may have admitted racing but I'm not sure that adds up to five years worth of culpability.
That said, for the parents of the dead lads, no sentence would be long enough I'm sure
There must have been more than the circumstancial evidence of him just being there to have prompted his confession.
All the same, the Fiesta driver bears much more of the responsibility as far as I'm concerned, not just for the tyre pressure. The SX driver may have admitted racing but I'm not sure that adds up to five years worth of culpability.
That said, for the parents of the dead lads, no sentence would be long enough I'm sure
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