Fatal crash driver to be sentenced today

Thu, 19 Nov 2015

Douglas Courthouse

A careless driver who caused a fatal crash after making an "obvious error of judgement" whilst on holiday to the Island will be sentenced today.

Yesterday a jury found Derbyshire man James Ricketts guilty of causing the death of 43-year-old Ramsey man Neil Walker on August 6th last year.

The retained firefighter was riding his motorbike on the Laxey to Ramsey Coast Road when his path was blocked by Ricketts' VW Golf - the 51-year-old was turning around after missing his turnoff.

Earlier this week the court heard Mr Walker could have been travelling at speeds of up to 100mph on the derestricted section of road - he died from his injuries at the scene.

The prosecutor told the court Ricketts' had given Mr Walker no chance of avoiding the collision saying his driving had fallen below that of a "competent driver".