Victim's brother slams 'lenient' £293 fine (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Victim's brother slams 'lenient' £293 fine

THE family of the motorcyclist killed in a crash with a lorry on the Spine Road have hit out at magistrates over lenient sentencing.

The brother of Lechlade biker Shaun Gearing spoke out after Oliver Preston was fined £293 and handed six penalty points for careless driving without due care and attention.

Martin Gearing, 36, of Kempsford, said he could not believe Preston will now keep his licence and his job as a driver for Keyways.

He said: "The fine is just a joke - £300 is that a fair price for a man's life? Surely you should lose your licence, he should have gone down for it - that's what I wanted.

"If you take someone's life you should at least be in prison for a few months."

Earlier Martin was present in court to hear 24-year-old Preston, of Gloucester Road, Corse, plead guilty to careless driving.

Prosecutor Derek Ryder told the court Preston was delivering a load of topsoil to a tip in Cerney Wick on the morning of April 23 last year.

After taking a wrong turn down Station Road Preston turned around and drove back towards the Spine Road where he planned to cross into Cerney Wick Road.

But Preston failed to give way at the junction and did not notice 38-year-old Shaun Gearing approaching on his Triumph Bonneville.

Shaun, a motorbike fanatic who had been riding since the age of 16, collided with the nearside of the lorry.

Preston immediately stopped his vehicle and contacted the emergency services, who pronounced Shaun dead at the scene.

Paddy Roche, defending Preston, said his client offered his regret to the Gearing family at being involved in the accident which killed their son.

Mr Roche said Preston had a clean driving licence and a good record of driving HGVs but had made a mistake as he tried to cross the Spine Road.

He said: "We know Shaun Gearing at some stage must have been in view and Oliver Preston must have failed to see him."

The court also heard evidence from Brian McGurk of Keyways who said Preston still met the criteria to drive for the company.

On sentencing Preston was ordered to pay £293 and given six penalty points on his licence.

When asked outside the court if he could forgive the man who caused his brother's death Martin Gearing said: "Not at all. How can you forgive someone for killing a member of your family? If he was such a good driver why was he sat here today?

"I have to go and let my parents know, they will take this very badly."