Stibbard: Suspended Sentence For Driver Who Killed A Grandfather

28 March 2014, 16:53 | Updated: 28 March 2014, 16:58

A driver's escaped a prison sentence after a crash in Norfolk that killed a grandfather.

Ben Robinson’s Vauxhall Corsa veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided with Basil Stapleton’s Nissan Primera on the A1067 on the afternoon of Thursday 18 July 2013.
 
The 26-year-old from The Street in Kettlestone had been driving home from work, whilst 76-year-old Mr Stapleton had been driving his daughter to Norwich to visit his granddaughter. The Corsa failed to negotiate a left-hand bend, crossed the centre of the road and hit the Primera head on.
 
Mr Stapleton suffered multiple injuries and sadly died at the scene. His daughter also suffered multiple injuries including broken bones in her neck, a shattered pelvis and broken ribs. Robinson suffered a broken foot and internal injuries.
 
A scene examination found that there were no defects with either vehicle. Robinson was summonsed to answer a charge of causing death by careless driving and admitted this at court. Today, Friday 28 March 2014, at Norwich Crown Court he was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years, he has also been banned from driving for two years.
 
Steve Matthews of the Serious Collision Investigation Team said: "This was a tragic incident where a woman being driven to visit her daughter in hospital then suffered the loss of her father and serious injuries herself. I would like to extend my sympathies to the family at this difficult time.
 
"Robinson has given no indication as to why he may have veered into the path of Mr Stapleton’s car, but has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. Just a momentary lapse in concentration whilst behind the wheel can have devastating consequences as seen here, and I would urge all drivers to pay full attention to their journey.”