A SPEEDING motorcyclist who mowed down and killed a pensioner as she walked a dog was yesterday locked up for three years.
Martin Tyson saw Elizabeth Sugdon crossing the road, but did not brake in case he lost control of his powerful Kawasaki ZZR 600.
Instead, the uninsured and unlicensed rider tried to lean the machine into a swerve to avoid Mrs Sugden and black Labrador, Molly.
Mrs Sugden, 71, died at the scene, on the A1085 Trunk Road in Redcar, east Cleveland, on December 10, last year, as did the dog.
Tyson admitted causing death by careless driving at an earlier Teesside Crown Court hearing, and returned yesterday to be sentenced.
The 26-year-old sobbed uncontrollably as a victim impact statement from Mrs Sugden’s husband, James, was read to the court.
In the document, Mr Sugden described his wife as “my best friend” and told how the devoted couple did everything together.
He said the tragedy had left him numb, needing sleeping pills and anti-depressants to function, and living in “a nightmare world”.
The couple were keen cyclists and covered 2,000 miles a year together, and spent most of their spare time enjoying shared hobbies.
“My life has been destroyed by this incident,” said Mr Sugden.
“It takes all of my courage and determination to get up in the mornings.
“My heart is broken and nothing in this life will ever mend it. I didn’t realise losing someone could cause so much heartache.
“I miss her so much. I am lost without her and so, largely, my life now seems empty and unsettled.”
Peter Johnson, mitigating, said Tyson had shown remorse since the accident, and handed Judge Michael Taylor a note from him.
“He apologises through me to Mrs Sugden’s family and her close friends, and he knows he is facing a custodial sentence.
“But to a large extent, that is just the beginning of the punishment he will face for the rest of his life,” Mr Johnson told the court.
The accident happened at 9.45am as Mrs Sugden took her friend’s dog for a walk to Coatham Marsh.
Matthew Bean, prosecuting, said Tyson, of Elm Road, Redcar, was travelling at 75mph in the 60mph zone when the collision occurred.
The court heard that he had appeared in court five times since the age of 15 for taking vehicles, dangerous driving, and having no insurance.
Judge Taylor remarked on Tyson’s tears in the dock, and told him: “The impact of this will live with you for the rest of your life.
“The reality is that this was a bad offence and the aggravating features are excessive speed, the conscious decision not to brake, the fact you were uninsured and held no licence, and that is a position that had pertained for many years.”
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