Drunk driver who killed cyclist has sentence halved on appeal
3.03.09 by Buffalo Bill
From last week’s Yorkshire Evening Post:
Chandler, of Arthington Lane, Otley, received four and a half years at Leeds Crown Court after admitting causing death by careless driving in December 2007 while under the influence of alcohol. He also pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.
The Appeal Court heard Chandler attempted to cover up damage to his car in the accident. He also escaped to Wales the following day to avoid being breathalysed.
Mr Justice Mackay said the evidence suggested Chandler was around 50 per cent over the legal alcohol limit at the time.
But, despite the gravity of his crimes, the judge concluded his sentence was too long.
The jail term took insufficient account of Chandler’s early guilty plea and the assistance he ultimately gave to the authorities, the judge concluded, cutting his sentence by a year, to three and a half years.
Chandler’s original 10-year driving ban was also halved.
OK, leaving aside the prison sentence, I am astonished that this guy should be considered eligible for a driving licence ever again.
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This fucking pisses me off so much. I say we start a lynch mob of cyclists and hang these fuckers from the nearest lamp post.
— Lee 3 March 2009, 10:55 #
If they ever are allowed to drive again (which people like this shouldn’t), they should have to display a plate, i.e. like the L or P plate, with a DD for drunk driver, perhaps, and maybe a K for Killer.
Forever. No appeals. No expiry. And failure to display the plate means a longer ban next time and/or guaranteed jail time.
Vigilante-ism would be a risk, I’d grant you, but one I’m happy running.
— Chris 3 March 2009, 12:40 #
Couldn’t agree more. What is the judiciary thinking giving self-confessed killers a reduced sentence? Send a fucking message on behalf of all vulnerable people not encased in over a ton of steel.
— Grant 19 May 2009, 19:22 #