Barrister jailed for causing fatal head-on crash

A family law barrister who admitted causing the death of a pensioner by driving dangerously has been jailed.

Hamish Hickey, 40, had picked up his two children from a school club and was travelling towards Ampleforth on Thorpe Lane on 26 July 2022 when he crashed head-on into a car being driven by Michael Lupton, 84, causing him extensive injuries.

York Crown Court heard Hickey, of St Hildas Walk, Ampleforth, had been driving at speeds above 65mph (105 km/h) and was in the middle of the road as he reached a blind summit when the crash happened. Mr Lupton died later in hospital.

On Friday, Hickey was jailed for 23 months and banned from driving for two years and 11 months.

The court heard Hickey had been caught speeding on three previous occasions and had three points on his licence at the time of the collision.

In his first police interview, he had denied responsibility for the crash and said it had been Mr Lupton who was travelling in the middle of the road.

However, the court was told that when expert evidence proved otherwise, Hickey admitted he had been wrong.

The court heard that following the crash, Mr Lupton was taken to James Cook University Hospital by air ambulance, where he died on 14 August 2022.

His nephew, Trevor Jackson, said Mr Lupton looked "unrecognisable" after suffering a bleed on the brain and several fractures, and it was a sight he could "not unsee".

Mr Jackson described his uncle as a "social butterfly", who would often go for drives to park up and look at the views.

The court also heard a victim statement from Mr Lupton's neighbour, Angela Langshaw, who said he had been "fit and well" for his age and he had treated her like his own child.

Defence solicitor Hunter Gray said Hickey had since taken a course to improve his driving, but had suffered flashbacks and feelings of shame when he got in a car.

He was also making monthly payments to Yorkshire Ambulance Service and had undergone regular therapy sessions, the court was told.

Sentencing Hickey, Judge Sean Morris told him he was a "good man" who had shown "utter remorse".

However, he added he could not get away from Hickey's "bad driving record".

"This is a tragic case for everybody. Mr Lupton was in the twilight years of his life and should have been able to live them in the village he loved," the judge told Hickey.

"Console yourself with the fact your children are alive and will be here for years to come."

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