On 01/01/2024 02:14 pm, Simon Mason wrote:
A man has been jailed for 13 years after causing the death of a cyclist in a collision in South Elmsall and then failing to stop at the scene.
Gregg Marsh
Gregg Marsh, 24, of Bracken Hill, Ackworth was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court today (Monday August 14) after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He was also banned from driving for 11 years and six months.
The charge relates to the death of 53-year-old Shaun Parkin-Coates in a collision on the A638 Doncaster Road on 21 December 2019.
Marsh continued driving his heavily damaged Ford Fiesta for around five miles following the collision and was later arrested from him home address.
Detective Sergeant Paul Lightowler, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “Shaun was making his way home from work, with just a few days to go before Christmas, when one man’s selfish and reckless actions took away his future.
“He was wearing reflective clothing and had lights on his bike and backpack and had taken all sensible precautions that we would expect a cyclist to take when travelling at night.
“Marsh could have accepted responsibility for what he did on the night but instead chose to drive away. He again had the opportunity to accept responsibility for his actions at court but has not done so. Instead, he has maintained that he did not see
Shaun and that there were no lights on his bike, a claim at odds with CCTV and eyewitness accounts.
“Before the collision, Marsh had been seen driving erratically and, on his arrest, had alcohol, cocaine and cannabis in his system. His behaviour and manner of driving that night was dangerous and sadly has ultimately resulted in Shaun’s death.
“I hope the conclusion of the court case brings some closure for Shaun’s family and friends after what has been an absolutely unimaginable few years.”
https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/news-appeals/wakefield-driver-jailed-more-decade-causing-death-cyclist
It is quite disgraceful that the media now regard the presence of
cocaine and cannabis in the body as something unremarkable and hardly
worth mentioning.
Not the media's fault, necessarily; just symptomatic of a sickness in
society generally.
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