TWO people have been found guilty of causing the death of a cyclist when their 'road rage' row ended in a fatal collision.
Paige Robinson and David Ferry were convicted of causing death by dangerous driving when Graham Pattison was thrown through the air when he was hit at speed and suffered catastrophic injuries.
Both defendants blamed each other for the fatal collision following the death of the father-of-two in July, 2020.
The 24-year-old Robinson killed Mr Pattison when she smashed into the rear of him while she was involved in an on-going dispute with Ferry, who was driving of an Audi, as they drove along the A689 towards Hartlepool.
A jury at Teesside Crown Court convicted the pair following less than three hours of deliberation.
Judge Jonathan Carroll told both defendants that they will be facing a custodial sentence when they return to court next month.
He said: “You have both been convicted of causing of Mr Pattison by dangerous driving. The sentence in both of your case will be inevitable, it will be a custodial sentence. The only question is how long that sentence ought to be having regards to the circumstances of the case.
“As neither of you have any previous convictions, particularly no driving convictions, I will order a pre-sentence report.
“Be under no illusions whatsoever, make your arrangements between now and June 1 when you come back for sentence, on the expectation of an inevitable custodial sentence.
“Bail is granted on condition that you co-operate with the probation service in the preparation of the pre-sentence report.”
Robinson, of Geranium Close in Billingham and Ferry, 47, of Granville Terrace in Redcar, both denied the charge of causing death by dangerous driving following the fatal collision on July 24, 2020.
The were released on bail until the next hearing.
During the trial, Ferry told jurors that he was calm under pressure after serving tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq during his 12-year military service and would have pulled over to help if he had known what had happened.
And Robinson sobbed as she told jurors that she didn’t see the cyclist before he smashed into the windscreen of her white Ford Fiesta when she was travelling at around 70mph.
The jury heard how Mr Pattison suffered catastrophic injuries including fractures to his spine when he was flung from his bike when Robinson drove into the rear of him.
Speaking after the verdict, Police Sergeant Catherine Iley from the Serious and Fatal Collision Unit said: “We welcome today’s result.
“The offenders blamed each other for the collision which took Mr Pattison’s life but as the Court heard their actions had catastrophic consequences.
“Myself and my team would like to thank all those involved in assisting at the scene, in what the Court heard were extremely harrowing circumstances.
“Mr Pattison was a beloved husband, father and son and our thoughts are with his family and friends today.”
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