Scooter rider spared jail over death of air technician
A SCOOTER rider who caused the death of a promising Royal Navy recruit during a careless overtaking manoeuvre has been spared jail.
Lawrence King, 31, from Baytree Hill, Liskeard, Cornwall, appeared before Truro Crown Court for sentencing last Friday having pleaded guilty to a charge of causing the death of Rohan Hicks by careless driving.
The court heard how, on the evening of June 29, 2022, King had been travelling on a scooter-type motorbike from Looe back to Liskeard along the B3252 at Horningtops, when he moved into the opposite lane to overtake his brother’s car on a hill. As he struggled to overtake the car, he failed to complete the manoeuvre, lost control of his motorbike, and collided head on with Rohan’s own bike, having left him no time to take evasive action.
The 21-year-old air engineering technician with the Royal Navy was thrown into the air, flung over a hedge and landed in a field.
The impact of the crash was such that his helmet came off and he suffered unsurvivable head injuries.
Despite attempts by paramedics, including his own father, Jack, an offduty paramedic who had reached the scene of the crash, Rohan was declared deceased at the scene and died in his father’s arms.
King, who suffered life-changing injuries in the crash and had to undergo several operations at Derriford Hospital, in Plymouth, since the fatal crash, was later arrested and charged with Rohan’s death.
In very emotional and dignified victim impact statements read out in court, Rohan’s father, his mother, Emma, and his aunt, Rebecca, said how much Rohan’s death had turned their world upside down. Jack told the court how proud the 21-year-old had been to join the Royal Navy, as he wanted to serve his country. He said Rohan still had so much more to give in life but he was robbed of his life and future. He said: “His sister has lost her hero. We were all so proud of him.”
Rohan’s mum, Emma, told the court how much she misses him every day. She said Rohan was “charismatic, kind, thoughtful, ambitious and brilliant with a great moral compass”.
At the time of his death, Commanding Officer of HMS Sultan, Captain Jo Deakin, said: “Rohan had exceptionally high personal and professional standards and he had yet to realise his full potential within the Royal Navy.”
The court heard that Rohan had always wanted to join the Navy, which he did in 2019. He qualified to be an air engineering technician and was on the way to climbing the ranks.
Deni Mathews, defending, said King had shown remorse and regret and that he wishes he had died, not Rohan. Mr Mathews said King had been a man of good character with a great work ethic who was now personally damaged by his own actions that evening and had expressed his desire never to go anywhere near a car or bike in his life again.
Sentencing King to 12 months, suspended for two years, and banning him from driving for five years, Judge Robert Linford said: “As a consequence of your actions, he suffered an unsurvivable head injury and died, leaving his family devastated.” He added: “The dignified statements his parents have read out in court have been among the most heartbreaking I have heard.”