A British backpacker has been sentenced to four years in prison in Western Australia for a fatal e-scooter collision that killed a father-of-two. Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch, Worcestershire, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol.
Perth District Court heard that Kemp was over the legal blood alcohol limit when she struck 51-year-old Thanh Phan on 31 May. Phan died in hospital several days later from a brain bleed. Kemp and her passenger suffered minor injuries.
Judge Wendy Hughes handed down a four-year term, backdated to June 2025 for time served, with a non-parole period of two years. Kemp could be eligible for release in mid-2027. Her driving licence was suspended for two years.
The case has sparked national debate on e-scooter safety in Australia, leading Perth and several surrounding councils to suspend hire services indefinitely. Under Western Australian law, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers, and be aged over 16. Dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Phan's family described him as a 'beloved husband, father of two and dear friend'.
