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Delivery driver who killed cyclist while high on cocaine jailed for seven years

"Cyclists take their life in their hands when they go out on just about any road in our country now."...

A delivery driver who killed a cyclist while high on drugs has been jailed for seven years. 

Jonathon Ramsbottom, from Rochdale, collided head-on with Stephen White, who had been training for an Ironman, in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, in May 2020.

Mr White, aged 54, suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital a short time after.

Ramsbottom was found to have 200 micrograms of Benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine – in 100millilitres of blood.

The 37-year-old Yodel driver, who was on bail for drugs offences at the time of the crash, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at Bradford Crown Court, The Bolton News reports. 

Sentencing Ramsbottom, the judge said that he would have jailed him for ten years had he opted for trial.

Passing sentence Judge Richard Mansell QC said: "Any careful, sensible and sober driver would have seen him and avoided him.

"You were driving too fast, one arm out of the window, with a passenger in the vehicle and with excess cocaine and some cannabis in your system.

"These two drugs, often used in combination by so many young men who work in manual or trade jobs, are fast becoming a scourge of our society.

"Cyclists take their life in their hands when they go out on just about any road in our country now."

He said the case was seriously aggravated by the fact Ramsbottom was on bail for conspiring to supply cocaine at the time.

The court heard he was jailed in December 2020 for four-and-a-half-years for that offence.

Judge Mansell said Ramsbottom's seven year sentence would be served consecutively to the sentence for supplying cocaine.

He also banned him from driving for 11 years.

Tributes poured in for Mr White following his death and he was described as a keen runner and cyclist.

In a statement released shortly after his death, his family said: “Stephen was a much loved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend to so many and will be terribly missed by all that knew him.”

In a statement Mr White's running club, Holcombe Harriers, said: "Steve was an extremely popular member of Holcombe Harriers. He always had a smile on his face and had a kind word for everybody.

"He was a man who enjoyed the camaraderie of his club mates and shared his generous personality and sense of humour."

It added: "He was involved in all aspects of club life, enjoyed racing on and off the fell and in triathlon. He was determined to succeed in all his athletic endeavours and was presently training for Ironman."

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6 comments

Avatar
Sam3 | 2 years ago
2 likes

Now if only something could be done about the many parliamentary representatives who get to decide laws while high on the same illegal stubtances. 
 

Anyone who thinks this problem is a solely a lorry driver issue, is just as delusional.

Avatar
mdavidford | 2 years ago
8 likes

Quote:

"These two drugs, often used in combination by so many young men who work in manual or trade jobs..."

Which assertion has what to do with the case, exactly? Would it have been OK if it had been a white collar worker in a sports car that had killed someone while on a cocktail of drugs?

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chrisonabike replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
3 likes

mdavidford wrote:

Quote:

"These two drugs, often used in combination by so many young men who work in manual or trade jobs..."

Which assertion has what to do with the case, exactly? Would it have been OK if it had been a white collar worker in a sports car that had killed someone while on a cocktail of drugs?

Maybe it was the dope that he was turning his nose up at? Apparently you can operate a newspaper or a bank or possibly even a government on charlie and as long as you've proven your bona fides you'll keep your job... no news but the list is long.

It's extremely concerning if this indeed as widespread as the good judge suggests and we've folks on the road taking drugs just to "get through the work". Especially if we're trying to fix a delivery driver shortage. (There is precedant to that in e.g. Australian road train drivers). I doubt that'll be fixed by the War on Certain Drugs though - better employment conditions would be a start.

Avatar
chrisonabike | 2 years ago
1 like

It doesn't start with the poor subjective definitions of "careless" and "dangerous" IMO but that is definitely no way to assess things legally any more than "I know it when I see it".

Law's a dry study but I think people involved in these cases should at least give themselves a refresher.  I'm not sure even the current subjective situation is really understood by many of those involved.

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hawkinspeter | 2 years ago
9 likes

What's the point of even having a charge of dangerous driving if it's so rarely used?

Avatar
AlsoSomniloquism | 2 years ago
13 likes

So high on drugs whilst driving is only careless driving. Good to know the low low levels needed to be considered careful. 

I've seen builders vans go past with the passenger appearing to sniff the dashboard. And as for the smells coming from certain cars, including one that just sailed through a red light without stopping (on a day my camera had died unfortunately) is concerning. 

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