Jail for death crash driver on wrong side of road

A chef who was driving on the wrong side of the road has been jailed for two years and four months for killing a taxi driver in a crash.

Christopher Boyle, 57, died on 2 September on the A4139 between Tenby and Penally in Pembrokeshire.

Mateusz Sikorski, 30, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving in October and was sentenced to 28 months.

Swansea Crown Court was told Sikorski, who was born in Poland, was visiting Wales to look for work as a chef.

The court heard he had been staying with friends who ran a local restaurant.

He was driving a friend's BMW towards Penally when he collided head-on with Mr Boyle, who was travelling in the opposite direction.

Sikorski initially told police at the scene that Mr Boyle was travelling on the wrong side of the road, but later admitted he [Sikorski] was on the wrong side of the road, which was backed up by CCTV footage from a nearby petrol station.

The court heard he was driving on the opposite side for "at least half a mile" before the collision.

Mr Boyle was pronounced dead at the scene.

A victim impact statement was read out in court on behalf of Elizabeth Evans, Mr Boyle’s sister.

"The loss of Chris has been absolutely devastating," it read.

"His tragic death by no fault of his own has left a void in our lives that can never be filled."

Mr Boyle was described as a "beloved member of the community," adding the "laughter he brought to gatherings will forever be missed".

Ms Evans said he was "the backbone who held our family together", and the "impact of that one careless act will never fade".

James Hartson, defending, told the court the defendant had "genuine and heartfelt remorse for his actions".

He described the defendantac's tions as a "lapse of concentration" and said "he has always accepted full responsibility for Mr Boyle's death".

Sentencing Sikorski, Judge Geraint Walters told him he was driving on the wrong side of the road, whether that was because he had "voluntarily forgotten" or because "driving in the UK is on the opposite side of the road than you're familiar with".

He added: "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," he added.

"These cases are amongst the most difficult that courts have to deal with.

"On one hand you're harmless," he said. "On the other side of matters, the harm caused by that dangerous act couldn't be much worse.

"A loving son, partner, father, brother and admired by extended family could never have predicted moments before he encountered you that he was experiencing his last seconds of life.

"Sentences can’t restore life, but the hurt, anguish and grief can in many families last many many years and nobody completely recovers from it."

Craig Harding of the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Mateusz Sikorski's manner of driving posed a major risk to other road users and resulted in fatal consequences.

"Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Boyle’s family and friends who have suffered a dreadful loss."