A grandmother who caused the death of a motorcyclist by slamming on her brakes in a fit of anger on a motorway has been sentenced to five years in prison. Collette Gibson, 55, was driving on the A249 near Sittingbourne, Kent, in April 2022 when she became frustrated with a motorist she believed was driving too close behind her.
Court Details the Crash
Maidstone Crown Court heard that Gibson braked 'aggressively', triggering a multi-vehicle collision. The BMW immediately behind her, driven by Robert Davis, 51, was forced to brake abruptly, causing motorcyclist Paul Wright, 51, to crash into it. Mr Wright, a father-of-three from East Malling, Kent, was thrown from his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and died from his injuries.
Judge Philip St John-Stevens told Gibson: 'This is a tragic case, because of the untimely death of Paul Wright and the ripple effect on his family, and indeed yours.' He added that the jury rejected her defence that the BMW driver was tailgating. 'You took the deliberate act of applying your brakes,' he said.
Prosecution and Defence Arguments
Stephen Shay, prosecuting, stated that Gibson's unnecessary and sharp braking caused the series of collisions. He noted that all four vehicles were travelling at 70mph in lane two. Gibson's defence claimed that the BMW had collided with her vehicle twice before she braked, but the prosecution argued there was no prior impact. Craig Rush, defending, described Gibson's action as a 'momentary lapse with terrible consequences', suggesting she braked to warn the driver behind that he was too close.
Family Impact Statements
Mr Wright's wife and daughter delivered emotional statements. His wife said: 'We spent hours sobbing. Our hearts were torn apart.' His daughter, Emily Wright, sobbed as she told the court her father never met his three grandchildren. 'I will always make sure my children know who he was and what an incredible grandad he would have been,' she said.
Judge St John-Stevens noted that witnesses described Gibson's car as appearing to 'go backwards or do an emergency stop'. He sentenced Gibson to five years in prison, with at least half to be served, and banned her from driving.
