Speeding Ford Transit van driver Aidan Lee from Leicestershire jailed for six years for death by dangerous driving after crash near Gainsborough

A speeding van driver who hit 90mph shortly before causing the death of another motorist on a rural Lincolnshire road was today (Tuesday) jailed for six years.

Aidan Lee, 20, from Leicestershire, admitted taking a photograph of his own wrecked Ford Transit van after colliding with a Mini Cooper in Pilham Lane, near Gainsborough.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the driver of the Mini Cooper, Stephen Sowerby, 57, died after being trapped inside his fire engulfed vehicle. He would not have died from the injuries he sustained in the collision.

Lee, of Whitcrofts Lane in Ulverscroft, near Markfield, admitted a charge of causing Mr Sowerby's death by driving dangerously on March 1 last year.

A police accident investigator concluded the primary cause of the collision was Mr Sowerby's failure to give way adequately at a minor road joining Pilham Lane.

But the investigator found there would have been enough time to avoid the crash if Lee had been sticking to the 50mph limit for his van on that road.

A tracking device fitted to Lee's van showed 12 ‘speeding events’ during his 17 minute journey from Bottesford to the crash scene. Estimates from Google Maps suggest the journey should take up to an hour.

Sarah Knight, prosecuting, said Lee also admitted to smoking three or four cannabis joints 72 hours before the collision.

A drugs test taken eight hours after the crash showed Lee was still significantly over the prescribed limit for cannabis but the accident investigator concluded this use had not impacted his reaction time.

Analysis of Lee's mobile phone also showed an exchange of WhatsApp messages with his sister and brief use of Facebook in the minutes leading up the collision.

Miss Knight said Lee also used the phone to take a photograph of his wrecked Ford Transit van after he and a passenger climbed out of the vehicle.

The device showed Lee was also in contact with three other people on social media after the crash and lied about not speeding.

Victim impact statements from the children and widow of Mr Sowerby, who was from the Scunthorpe area, were read out in court.

The court heard Lee had no previous convictions or endorsements on his driving licence.

Before passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight said it was clear Mr Sowerby was much loved family man who had been honoured for his work with apprentices.

Judge Sjolin Knight told Lee that while she accepted he was not using his phone at the time of the collision his use of social media and cannabis showed a disregard for other road users.

"This was an entire journey of dangerous driving, some 17 minutes from start to finish," Judge Sjolin Knight said.

Judge Sjolin Knight told Lee it was also an aggravating feature that he had put his own passenger at risk and made insensitive comments to a HGV driver who stopped at the scene to comfort Mr Sowerby.

Lee was also banned from driving for eight years and must take an extended driving test before he can get behind the wheel.

Speaking afterwards, a statement from Mr Sowerby’s family said: “No sentence given will reflect the loss of Steve, a devoted family man and a respected work colleague.

“Words cannot sum up the devastation and grief caused by the selfish actions of another.

“Steve did not deserve to have his life so needlessly taken away, he deserved to live.

“The family would like to thank all members of Lincolnshire Police involved in the investigation for their work in bringing justice for Steve, and to those who have offered support over the past year.”

Detective Sergeant Emma Ward, lead investigating officer for Lincolnshire Police, said: “The speeds driven by Aiden Lee were excessive and dangerous. This was a country road and there is no excuse for driving so fast; there never is an excuse for speeding.

“His driving was impaired through cannabis use and the use of his mobile phone, all of which are well documented to change how a driver reacts to events on the road.

“These three things, driving at excessive speed, driving following drug use and also using his mobile phone are irresponsible decisions made by the driver Lee and has resulted in the death of a loved and respected 57-year-old man.

“Our thoughts are with his family.”