TWO dangerous drivers who were caught up in a ‘road rage’ incident which led to the death of a cyclist have been jailed.

Paige Robinson and David Ferry were convicted of causing death by dangerous driving following the death of Graham Pattison, who was thrown into the air when he was hit at speed.

The father-of-two suffered catastrophic injuries when he was hit by Robinson on the A689 between Sedgefield and Wynyard in July 2020.

Robinson, 24, and Ferry, 47, were jailed at Teesside Crown Court today.

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Robinson, of Geranium Close, Billingham, was handed a sentence of seven years and nine months while Ferry, of Granville Terrace in Redcar, was jailed for eight years.

The Northern Echo:

Both defendants, who were also banned from driving, blamed each other for the fatal collision but were found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at trial.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said: “Graham was a family man. He was married to Victoria and was father to two daughters. His family meant everything to him and he meant everything to them.

Read more: Family pay emotional tribute to killed cyclist Graham Pattison

“There are no words I can say or punishment that will truly give back to his family what they want more than anything else – that is their husband and father back.”

They were involved in an on-going dispute on the road, which had started when Robinson “cut up” Ferry at the junction between the A1 and A689.

The situation escalated and the court heard the A689 became their “race track” as they became engaged in “angry road rage competitive driving”.

It came to a head when Robinson, who was tailgating Ferry, who was braking to “intimidate” the other driver, decided to undertake. As she did so, Ferry moved towards her lane and Robinson, who had not seen Mr Pattison, ploughed into his bicycle while travelling at about 70mph.

Mr Ferry failed to stop following the collision and maintains he did not see what had happened.

Martin Sharpe, mitigating for Robinson, who sobbed throughout the sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court,  said the former carer had been “under the influence” of her partner who was in the passenger seat during the incident.

He said: “She has to live with the fact she killed Mr Pattison. She takes full responsibility. The emotion she has expressed and is expressing now is not confected. It’s real emotion.

“She hasn’t slept in two years. Her life has been a nightmare and she must bear full responsibility for what she did.”

Dan Cordey, mitigating for Ferry, said: “My client knowns this is a matter that will attract a custodial sentence. Mr Ferry knows that and my submissions are not aimed to downplay or seek to persuade the court that the offences for which Mr Ferry falls to be sentences are anything other than extremely serious.”

He described Mr Ferry, who spent 12 years in the Army and has an eight-year-old daughter, as of good character, who was otherwise law abiding and said he was “deeply remorseful”.

Judge Carroll said: “I accept you are distressed by Mr Pattison’s death and regret what has happened because of that. Remorse and regret is directed at yourself and the circumstances you find yourself in, rather than real remorse for the role you played in causing death.”

The judge also rejected Ferry’s claim that he had not seen what happened to Mr Pattison. He added: “I completely reject that lie.”

Sergeant Catherine Iley from the serious and fatal collision unit said: “We welcome today’s sentences.

“The offenders blamed each other for the collision which took Mr Pattison’s life but as the Court heard they were driving with total disregard for other road users. Their selfish actions had catastrophic consequences.

“But for the actions of Miss Robinson and Mr Ferry, there was no reason Graham Pattison wouldn’t have made it home to his family that afternoon.

“Mr Pattison was a beloved husband, father, son and brother and our thoughts are with his family and friends today.”

 

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