Carlisle Man found guilty of killing a man by dangerous driving

Kenneth Thomas Graham, 67, died after being hit by a car while he was crossing the road near his home in Newtown Road on the evening of May 12 last year.

Paul Robertson, 35, pleaded guilty to causing his death by dangerous driving.

Robertson’s friend, Robert Hartley, 42, of Belgarth Gardens, Carlisle, who was driving ahead in another car which managed to avoid Mr Graham, had originally been charged with dangerous driving but that was dropped when he pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of careless driving.

Prosecuting counsel Andrew Ford told the court there was no evidence that, as the prosecution had at first thought, Hartley and Robertson had been racing.

Robertson, also admitted possessing nearly 4,000 pornographic pictures of children Ð 15 of them of level four, the second worst category on the official scale. The recorder at Carlisle Crown court advised Robertson that a prison sentence was inevitable and the pre-sentence report would serve only to help him decide how long it should be.

Article Source: NewsandStar

Barrow, death crash teenager starts retrial

After a jury in March this year failed to reach a verdict on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving, a new trial has now started at Lancaster Crown court.

Jamie Skelton is charged with the offence after George Tyson, 61 died in a traffic accident on the A5087 coast road last year.

Lancaster Crown Court heard yesterday that Skelton, who was 17 at the time of the incident, had lost control of his white Vauxhall Corsa near to the junction of the coast road and Main Street, Bardsea, on Sunday January 22, 2012.

The car travelled backwards, flattening a give way sign and causing it to detach from its post.

Mr Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, explained how the triangular metal sign was then flung out from beneath the rear wheels like a frisbee or a boomerang before striking Mr Tyson who was out walking with his son Garry, 29. He added that this had happened because Skelton was driving at a fast and excessive speed.

The sign struck Mr Tyson in the face, severing a major artery. He died from his injuries at the scene.

Skelton denies causing death by dangerous driving but has admitted the less serious offence of causing death by careless driving.

The trial continues.

Article Source: NWEmail and WestMoreland Gazette

Work Feud led to iron bar attack in Wrexham

A man involved in a dispute with a colleague at work went to his home and struck him on the head with a metal bar. Stephen Jones, 39, attacked Martin Bates after an incident at work led to Joness hours being reduced while Mr Batess hours had been increased. Both men worked as cleaners at Sainsburys in Wrexham.

Jones, of Tanycoed, Caia Park, Wrexham, admitted common assault and possessing the bar as an offensive weapon.

He was spared immediate custody but was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and placed on a four-month tagged curfew to ensure he remains indoors between 6.30pm and 6am. He was also ordered to pay the victim £250 compensation.

Defending, Mr Brian Treadwell, argued that the incident happened at the back door, not inside the property. He also told the court his client was 40 with chronic angina and was waiting an appointment with a consultant cardiologist. He was now living on state benefits and that was unlikely to change given his health problems.

Article Source: LeaderLive