Suspended sentence for fatal car crash driver

A former Royal Navy officer who caused a fatal road crash at a notorious accident blackspot was given a suspended jail sentence.

Marine engineer Paul Youe failed to see motorcyclist George Jones as he pulled out on to the A34 at Brocton crossroads, near Stafford. Mr Jones, aged 55, of Cannock, was knocked unconscious in the crash and later died.

At Stafford Crown Court, Judge Simon Tonking, the Recorder of Stafford, suspended a six-month jail sentence on Youe - and called for a look at safety at the spot.

"I would invite the Highways Authority to look at this junction to see whether more can be done to protect those on the major road," he said.

Youe, 40, of Chase Crescent, Brocton, admitted causing Mr Jones's death by careless driving. His sentence was suspended for two years and he was banned from driving for two years and told to do 250 hours' unpaid community work.

Mr Michael Garrett, prosecuting, said that on May 5, at about 7.30am, the defendant and Mr Jones were on their way to work.

Mr Jones was riding his Suzuki motorcycle towards Stafford as Youe's Volkswagen Golf pulled out in front of him at the crossroads and the fatal collision occurred.

The judge told Youe that Mr Jones was "totally blameless." He added: "To your credit, you got out of your car and you went to Mr Jones and when you realised he was injured, you were phoning immediately the emergency services.

"You admitted to the police that you had failed to see Mr Jones's motorcycle. But you knew this junction had a potential for risk," said the judge.

Mr Michael Duck, defending, said Youe saw active service in the Royal Navy, and now worked in the marine industry.

"My client still lives within a few hundred yards of this junction, so it is a constant reminder," he said.