A pensioner who killed a motorcyclist in a crash as he turned onto a main road was told by a judge he was 'not looking hard enough' as he walked free from court.
John Wooler was sentenced on his birthday on Thursday (October 1). The 77-year-old, Minshull Street Crown Court heard, was driving his Peugeot 107 on Moss Lane in Partington, Trafford, when he approached the junction with Warburton Lane on May 14 last year.
As he turned right, he went into the path of Chris Davies, who was riding his Honda Hornet. Mr Davies, 54, died at the scene.
Crash details
Wooler told police he had looked both ways before pulling out. He said he heard a 'horn' and an 'almighty bang'. Wooler earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. He was given a year-long community order.
Rachel White, prosecuting, earlier told the court the incident happened at around 9.21am. It was a clear, bright day, she added. Warburton Lane is governed by a 40mph speed limit and bordered by hedge rows, Ms White said.
Mr Davies was travelling south on Warburton Lane. Wooler was about to turn right onto Warburton Lane from Moss Lane. Ms White added: "The Peugeot turned right into the road and into the path of the Honda."
"This caused the victim to become unseated, threw him from the bike and he became unconscious. He received help from members of the public, including an off duty firefighter. Emergency services quickly attended, but sadly despite their best efforts he was pronounced dead at the scene."
A post mortem concluded Mr Davies died as a result of severe chest trauma.
Victim's family statement
In a victim impact statement, his wife Yvonne Davies spoke of the love and support her husband of 33 years had shown to her over the years. She said she had been left to wake up in an 'empty, cold house'.
"I would come home from a long day at work and he would make dinner for me, now I am too tired to cook," Ms Davies added. "He took care of the DIY, the garden, the painting - now I'm having to do tasks I've never done before."
She said her eldest daughter Lydia, 'she misses him so much'. Son Robert, 26, Ms Davies added, was due to start a business with his dad. That, she said, was 'no longer happening'. Mr Davies 'adored' his grandchildren, the court heard.
Speaking of Wooler, she said: "I understand John Wooler did not intend to cause a fatal accident that day. I am sure him and his family have been impacted emotionally from this tragic event. What would I like to see? I really don't know."
"Fortunately, John Wooler's family still have their husband and dad, we sadly do not and nothing will ever change this."
Judge's comments and sentence
Wooler remained at the scene following the incident. He told police: "I was coming out of the junction, there was a vehicle in front of me. He moved out, I got to the junction, I looked left, saw nothing, I looked right, saw nothing. I pulled out and heard a horn then heard an almighty bang. I looked out and saw a motorcycle."
The court heard he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was not using a phone.
A forensic collision expert concluded nothing was obstructing Wooler or Mr Davies, who was 115m away from the junction. He had been travelling at 46mph before braking. Had he been driving at the speed limit, the collision still would have happened, it was said.
Mitigating, Ian Bridge said Wooler was 'utterly distraught' at having been involved in the death of an 'innocent man'.
Wooler is no longer driving, he said, adding: "He has never been in trouble, which is quite remarkable. He has never had a point of his licence."
"What made it unsafe was not looking carefully enough. If you don't see a car, your brain makes the assumption the road is clear and you pull out. 1.8 seconds later, there is a tragedy."
Recorder Ciaran Rankin told Wooler: "You said you had looked both ways and started to turn right and were first aware of someone when you heard a horn, then the noise of the collision. It looks to me like you simply didn't look hard enough."
Wooler, of Penrith Close, Partington, Trafford, was made the subject of a 12 month community order and ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work. He was banned from driving for 12 months.
