On Sunday 23 August 2020, Macauley Skirrow’s vehicle collided with a motorbike being ridden along Sutton Road in Deal. The motorcyclist died at the scene.
Following a guilty plea, Skirrow, 24, from Freemans Way in Deal, was jailed for four and half years at Canterbury Crown Court on 17 September 2021.
The collision occurred after Skirrow overtook another vehicle waiting at the crossroads with Mongeham Road and Sutton Road. The vehicle was waiting to turn right when the motorbike approached. Skirrow did not stop at the crossroad, overtook the vehicle and collided with the motorbike. The victim, a man in his 70s, died at the scene.
Skirrow was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving a vehicle while unlicensed and uninsured.
During the hearing, Skirrow was also disqualified from driving for three years and until an extended driving test is passed.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Bob Fursey from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: ‘Skirrow’s decision to ignore the give way sign at the crossroads and to overtake another vehicle that was waiting for the motorbike to pass the junction, cost a man his life.
‘Not only that, Skirrow was not insured and he did not even hold a license to drive the vehicle.
‘His actions were disgraceful and while no sentence will be ever compensate the family for their loss, I hope that it will at least bring some closure for them at this difficult time.’