A grandmother who brake-checked a driver on a dual carriageway leading to a three-vehicle collision in which a motorcyclist was killed has been jailed for five years.
Collette Gibson was convicted at trial of causing Harley Davidson rider Paul Wright’s death by dangerous driving in the crash on the A249 near Sittingbourne more than four years ago.
Paul Wright, from East Malling, was described as a “true gentleman” by friends. Picture: Facebook
Jurors at Maidstone Crown Court heard that on April 23, 2022, she was driving a Vauxhall Zafira in the outside lane on the Sheppey-bound carriageway, followed by a BMW driven by Robert Davis.
Behind Mr Davis was the 51-year-old motorcyclist, whom his family described as a man with “a heart of gold and a full-of-life personality.”
The prosecution told the court that Gibson’s actions of “sharply and unnecessarily” hitting her brakes that afternoon, “annoyed in some way” by the driving of the BMW, caused a “series of collisions” and ultimately the motorcyclist’s death.
With the Zafira having come to what Mr Davis later described as a “sudden and abrupt stop” ahead of him, he was unable to avoid striking the rear of the car.
In turn, Mr Wright went into the back of the BMW, shattering its rear window. Thrown from his Harley, he then landed on a Mercedes travelling in lane one before falling into the road.
Gibson caused the fatal collision after slamming on her brakes. Picture: Facebook
The married biker, who worked as a night traffic management supervisor and lived in Catlyn Close, East Malling, died at the scene despite the attendance of paramedics and the air ambulance.
Tributes at the time from friends and family described him as “a true gentleman” and “a class bloke gone too early”, and today at Gibson’s sentencing hearing the court was told that Mr Wright’s first grandchild was born just two months after the fatal crash.
Gibson, 55, of Lime Close, South Ockendon in Essex, denied causing Mr Wright’s death by dangerous driving as well as the alternative, less serious offence of causing his death by careless driving.
She was found guilty of the more serious charge by a 10-2 majority jury verdict.
Passing sentence, Judge Philip St.John-Stevens said although Gibson had not set out that day with the “intention or idea” that her actions would take a life, she had applied her brakes “in an aggressive and deliberate manner” and with “severe” force.
“I’m not sure why you applied the brakes with such force but this was not simply a touch of the brakes to warn,” he told Gibson.
“This was you, applying the brakes, as I described, knowing a vehicle was very close behind. Indeed, that is the reason you applied the brakes in the way you did.”
The judge also accepted Gibson had shown remorse and was “perhaps still processing and trying to understand” events that day.
Collette Gibson, 55, speaking to police after the crash on the A249. Picture: Kent Police
But, in respect of the BMW driver, Judge St.John-Stevens concluded that, although driving close, he had not been “tailgating”, did not “significantly contribute” to the fatal crash, and Gibson’s braking was a “completely unexpected” event for him.
Jailing Gibson amid a courtroom packed with family members on both sides, the judge concluded: “You, in your mind, must have wrestled with what happened and why you did what you did. Perhaps you only know that.
“In all the circumstances, the least possible sentence the court can impose is a term of imprisonment of five years.”
Gibson, who waved and blew a kiss to her family as she was led from the dock to the cells, was also banned from driving for four-and-a-half years and ordered to take an extended test to regain her licence.
At the time of the incident she told police she was driving in lane two when the BMW hit her. She braked and was hit a second time.
Then, during a formal interview three days after the fatality, Gibson spoke of the car tailgating her, the jury heard.
She explained how she was travelling just over the speed limit and, aware of a speed camera and wanting to go down to 70mph, touched her brake to do so.
The BMW then hit her for the first time, she said, and having braked, she felt a second impact.
Gibson was at fault for a crash on the A249 Sheppy-bound carriageway. Picture: Facebook
Giving evidence at her trial, she agreed she wanted the BMW driver to know he was “too close” to her.
However, she denied that she had brake-checked him or created a hazard for other traffic, and said she did not know the motorcyclist was still riding behind.
Gibson described feeling “two jolts” to her Zafira in quick succession. She also told the court she had initially braked thinking the BMW could see her lights and “might back off.”
But she denied her actions that afternoon caused the fatal collision.
Following the fatality, police interviewed Mr. Davis under caution as a suspect.
Giving evidence to the court, he said he was driving between 50 and 60mph and denied tailgating or “encouraging” the Zafira to speed up or pull into lane one.
The court heard from several other witnesses who said they saw no traffic, obstacles or debris ahead of the Vauxhall that would have caused it to stop in the outside lane.
A Ford Fiesta driver in lane one described seeing the car suddenly slam on the brakes, while a Porsche 911 motorist said the BMW driver had no time to react.
Paul Wright, 51, died while riding his Harley Davidson bike along the A249 near Sittingbourne. Picture: Facebook
During cross-examination of Mr Davis by Gibson’s lawyer, Craig Rush, it was suggested the fatality had been caused not by the defendant but by Mr Davis and Mr Wright being too close to the Vauxhall and BMW respectively.
This morning in mitigation, Mr Rush said while it was accepted her driving was “momentarily bad”, he disputed that the defendant used her brake out of anger or irritation.
Instead, he said her action resulted from a “lack of skill” and fear as the BMW drove close behind in a bid to make her move over.
He also told the court that her account to the jury of there being two collisions with the BMW was not “fabricated” but her “doing her best to piece together incredibly short-lived events.”
Mr Rush also addressed Mr Wright’s family’s claims that Gibson had shown no remorse, saying she had frequently been in tears in conferences with him, and wished to express her “genuine and deep-felt sorrow” for the tragic consequences of her action that day.
“It was the last thing on earth she ever intended to happen,” he added.
Two victim impact statements read to the court detailed the devastating impact of Mr Wright’s death on his loved ones.
His wife, Sherrey Wright, described how she and her mother-in-law found their “hearts torn apart” and that even now “the days don’t get easier but I learn to live with them”.
She also revealed that financial strain forced her to leave the home they had shared, and spoke of how her husband always took “such care” on the road whether working or enjoying his Harley.
“I have lost my husband and the person I loved due to a split second decision the defendant has made, knowing it could have a catastrophic outcome,” Mrs Wright concluded.
Writing on behalf of herself and her two brothers, Emily Wright said losing their dad at such a young age, in good health and in such tragic circumstances would impact them for the rest of their lives.
The A249 Sheppey-bound near Bobbing in Sittingbourne. Picture: Google Maps
“The fact Dad died on the road is heartbreaking. One minute he was here, the next he was gone,” she told the court. “We are left wishing for just one more moment, one more chance to tell him how much he meant to us.”
Highlighting that his three grandchildren were all born after the fatal crash, Ms Wright continued: “I would love him to meet them and be part of their lives.
“I will always make sure my children know who he was and what an incredible grandad he would have been. My dad had a heart of gold and a full-of-life personality.
“He would have been the most amazing grandad to our children.”
Ms Wright also said that no punishment would make up for their loss, before concluding: “Dad, you left a space in our lives that can never be filled.
“We are satisfied Gibson will now face the consequence of her actions and we hope this brings some closure to the man’s loved ones…”
“We will forever miss your guidance, your advice, your support and love. You deserved so much more time and without you we are truly devastated.”
In his sentencing remarks, Judge St.John-Stevens said it was clear that Mr Wright’s death had left “a huge vacuum” in the lives of those who knew and loved him.
Referring in particular to the impact statements, the judge commented: “Emily Wright said words fall short of capturing the depth of love and, indeed, loss that they have.
“Perhaps in cases like this, that loss is all the more difficult to bear because it robs the family of time to say goodbye and to prepare themselves and have that last conversation with their loved ones,” he said.
But he added that no punishment imposed by the court could ever “reflect” such a loss, and should not be regarded as “a crude measure” of the loss suffered.
Commenting after sentencing, Detective Constable Sara Capozzi said: “Gibson’s actions resulted in a man’s death through no fault of his own.
“She has consistently denied the charge as well as refuting the testimony of numerous witnesses, making her victim’s family relive this tragic incident in court.
“We are satisfied Gibson will now face the consequence of her actions and we hope this brings some closure to the man’s loved ones.”