Death Driver Jailed

A rail worker from Ashford, who left a moped rider dying in the road after a hit and run crash, is starting seven years behind bars.

The jury heard 27-year-old Danny Bourne had been drinking heavily and was driving without insurance when he knocked Adrian Hyde off his moped.

Bourne, of Bredelands Close, Willesborough, was unanimously found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. As well as the jail sentence, he was also disqualified from driving for six years and will have to take a re-test to get his driving licence back.

Adrian Hyde was on his way to work on 26th October 2009, when a car driven by Bourne knocked him off his moped. Bourne and his two passengers ran off, leaving Mr Hyde dying in the road.

PC Glynn Braidwood from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: "After police spent nine hours trying to locate him, Mr Bourne eventually handed himself in.

"Using CCTV, officers were able to establish that Mr Bourne had spent the night drinking. It was also established that his car was uninsured. Despite the refusal of the two passengers to assist the police investigation, and the obstacles put in place by many of his friends, Mr Bourne has been convicted of causing Mr Hyde's death by dangerous driving.

"This should serve as a warning to those who commit offences and then attempt to frustrate our enquiries. We will find them and we will bring them to justice."

Bourne pleaded guilty to failing to stop, failing to report an accident and failing to notify police details of the driver when required.

The Judge told Bourne he had been convicted on the most overwhelming evidence.