A father wept in court as he admitted causing the death of his four-year-old son in a motorbike crash. Robert Steele, 24, appeared via videolink from HMP Nottingham and was seen sobbing as he entered his guilty plea, the Nottingham Post reports.
Emergency services were called to Churchill Drive in Newark at around 6pm on August 30 following reports of a crash between an off-road bike and a car. Little Robert Henry Steele was tragically declared dead at the scene. He had been a passenger on the motorbike his father was riding when it collided with a car.
Guilty pleas and additional charges
Steele, of Grange Road, Newark, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He also admitted charges of causing death while uninsured and while disqualified, and an unrelated charge of breaching a restraining order during the appearance at Nottingham Crown Court.
Judge Mark Watson remanded Steele into custody and adjourned the case for reports. "The sentence will not be before November 11, and I will adjourn for reports," he said. "The precise date will be finalised at a later date. Robert Steele, you have pleaded guilty and I am adjourning for a medical report and once it is available the court will do what it can to sentence you as soon as it can."
Second man charged and family tribute
A second man, Brian Cameron, 32, of Chatsworth Road, Newark, has also been charged with causing Robert Henry's death by dangerous driving. He is yet to enter his plea.
Following the incident, Robert Henry's mum, Tilly Robinson, paid tribute to her son. "My beautiful boy was tragically taken from us on Sunday," she said. "Robert Henry was my pride and joy, and my heart will be forever broken. Myself, his little brother, Ronny-Boy, and all our family will never forget Robert Henry, and we will make sure his memory lives on in all that we do. He may have only had four precious years with us, but he was such a big character, full of love, big smiles and cheeky charm. We would like to thank all the emergency services and members of the public present at the scene who helped my boy, Robert Henry."
