31/03/2010

Driver Jailed For Fatal Crash

A man has been jailed after a motorcyclist was killed in a traffic collision, and his passenger was left permanently disabled.

Stuart Halliday, 20, of Tennyson Road, Droylsden pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, and was yesterday sentenced to three years detention in a young offenders institute at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

He was also banned from driving for four years.

The collision took place on Green Lane in Failsworth, just before 8pm on Friday 29 May 2009, and resulted in the death of 46-year-old Roy Ashton, who was from the Hyde area of Greater Manchester.

Halliday took a friend for a drive in Failsworth in a Volkswagen Polo. He picked his friend up from Droylsden, from where they drove to Daisy Nook and the Woodhouses area of Failsworth.

Halliday's friend said he was driving dangerously throughout the journey, taking corners at fast speeds and struggling to control the car.

As the Polo went round a downhill bend on Green Lane, it strayed into the opposite lane, and collided head on with Roy Ashton's motorbike.

The collision forced the bike back by 20 metres.

Roy, and his passenger Nikki Thomas, suffered extensive injuries. Roy died in hospital later that evening.

Nikki has been left permanently disabled by the incident. She remained in hospital for almost five months.

A traffic officer on patrol came across the scene at about 8pm.

Halliday had stopped the car on a grass verge near to the scene. When approached by the police, he admitted losing control of the car as he came around the bend.

Sergeant Simeon Holt, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Halliday's irresponsible and reckless driving has had tragic consequences.

"He took a friend out in the car on a Friday night and throughout the journey drove with abandon. To say that this was therefore an accident does not wash.

"Had Halliday been driving safely, Roy Ashton would not have been killed and Nikki's quality of life would not have been ruined."

(PR/BMcc)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

26 April 2007
Church choirmaster jailed for abuse
A church choirmaster has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for abusing boys in his choir. Peter Halliday, 61, from Farnborough in Hampshire admitted sexually abusing three boys in his care between 1985 and 1990 when he was organist and choirmaster at St Peter's Church in Farnborough. He pleaded guilty to ten charges of indecent assault.
17 February 2006
Sir Roy Meadow wins appeal
Paediatrician Professor Sir Roy Meadow has won his appeal against being struck off the medical register at the High Court today. Sir Roy, 72, was struck off the register last year, after the General Medical Council found him guilty of serious professional misconduct over evidence he provided during the trial of Sally Clark.
23 September 2005
Lack of driver education to blame for fatal accidents
A lack of driver education is to blame for fatal accidents on motorways according to a report by an insurance company. Direct Line, the UK's largest car insurer, is calling for changes to the driving test to include education on motorway driving due to a rise in the number of accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (HGV).
13 July 2005
Sir Roy Meadow found guilty by GMC
Professor Sir Roy Meadow has been found guilty of providing “erroneous and misleading” evidence in the trial of Sally Clark, at a General Medical Council hearing. The GMC said that Sir Roy had failed in his duty as an expert witness and they will now decide if his actions amount to serious professional misconduct.
02 July 2008
Day Denies Drink Driving Charge
Actor and singer Darren Day has today pleaded not guilty to a charge of drink driving. Day, 40, of Pontefract Road, has denied driving his car through a red light in the city centre three weeks ago, while nearly double the legal alcohol limit .