UNJUST DESERTS
28 MONTHS JAIL FOR MAN WHO CAUSED DEATH OF POPULAR TENBY CABBIE BY DANGEROUS DRIVING
Mateusz Sikorski, 30, pleaded guilty to the ‘death by dangerous driving’ of Christopher Boyle, affectionately known as “Mukka”, at a hearing in October. He was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on November 8. Mr Boyle sadly died at the scene on 2 September on the A4139 bet- ween Tenby and Penally,
just
before 11pm, having sustained multiple traumatic injuries. The court heard that Sikorski, who was born in Poland, but had grown up in Italy, was visiting Wales to look for work. He was driving a friend’s BMW towards Penally
when he col- lided head-on with Mr Boyle, who was travell- ing in the opposite direc- tion in his taxi heading back into Tenby. Sikorski initially told police that he was on the right side of the road, but later admitted differently, with CCTV footage from a nearby service station capturing the footage. The court heard that the defendant had been driving on the wrong side for at least half a mile before the collision occurred.
A victim impact statement read out in court on behalf of Mr Boyle’s sister, Elizabeth Evans stated: “The loss of Chris by no fault of his own has been absolutely devastating.” Addressing the court, the judge said: “These cases are amongst the most difficult that courts have to deal with. This wasn’t a mom- entary crossing onto the other carriageway; you were travelling along there for at least half a mile.” The judge told the defendant: “It’s incumbent on all of us no matter what country we’re driving in, that we familiarise ourselves with the rules. Either you had forgotten or were ill equipped.”
CABBIE LEFT DISABLED IN BLACKBURN CRASH PLEADS FOR LENIENCY FOR YOUNG DRIVER A cabbie left disabled and unable
to work after a horrific crash with a speeding motorist has urged a judge not to jail the young offender. Asgar Ali, suffered life-changing injuries in the collision. Preston Crown Court heard that Max Street, 20, was driving at 70 in a 30, when he crashed into Mr Ali’s Toyota Prius on April 28, 2023. The incident occurred at a junction in Blackburn, where Street over- took another vehicle and accel- erated into the oncoming lane. Mr Ali, was turning into a side road, but due to Street’s excessive speed he ploughed into the taxi. Mr Ali was thrown from the vehicle and suffered severe injuries, includ- ing a brain bleed, spinal fractures, muscle damage to his leg and spent three weeks in intensive care.
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Other motorists stopped and called emergency services. Street was walking around saying the taxi had driven into him and the collision was not his fault, the court heard. His family described the devast- ating impact of the accident, highlighting Mr Ali’s struggles with mobility, emotional distress and the loss of his independence. Despite his own suffering, Mr Ali’s son emphasised the importance of rehabilitation for Street, stating: “My dad believes the driver should be punished, but he is young and made a mistake. My dad feels a custodial sentence would have a terrible impact on a young person’s life.” Judge Richard Gioserano, senten- cing, said: “What a contrast it is to you that the injured man still finds
it in his heart to think about you when you can only think about yourself. You would do well to ask what it says about you Max Street.” The judge said he concluded there was no real remorse shown by Street, adding: “Mr Ali was clearly caught by your speed that led him into a false belief he had all the time in the world to clear the junction. “You were upon him in a flash. He is fortunate not to have been killed and you are fortunate not to be standing in that dock facing death by dangerous driving.” Street, of Darwen, was sentenced to 20 months suspended for two years, 15 days rehabilitation activities and 250 hours’ unpaid work. He also banned Street from driving for three years and ordered he must take an extended retest.
DECEMBER 2024 PHTM
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