Marc Lewis Hensby (pictured at Chelmsford Crown Court) previously admitted causing the death of David Crow
A man who knocked down and killed a moped driver smirked as he walked free from court with just a community order.
Marc Lewis Hensby, 20, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court, having previously admitted causing the death of David Crow through careless driving.
On June 16 last year, Hensby collided with the rear end of Mr Crow’s moped on the A138, causing him to crash and land on the road, suffering severe brain injuries.
Mr Crow, 58, was on his way to work for a night shift at the Royal Mail sorting office in Chelmsford when the accident happened.
As a result of the collision, Mr Crow’s crash helmet became detached, and other vehicles passing were unable to stop in time.
A father and son came to his aid, and took it in turns to perform CPR on the roadside.
When paramedics arrived a short while after, at about 11pm, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A report stated that Mr Crow would not had been driving faster than 40mph at the time of the collision, and that the defendant was driving between 53 and 72 mph.
Richard Conley, mitigating, said: ‘It has been said [Mr Hensby] hasn’t reached out [to the family]. That’s not the easiest thing to do when one is in a serious case, to make any approach to those affected.
‘He offers his sincerest apologies to the family and to everybody who knew and loved David.
Mr Crow, 58, was on his way to work for a night shift at the Royal Mail sorting office in Chelmsford when the accident happened
‘He apologised for pleading not guilty and for allowing the case for going as long as it has, preventing the family of achieving closure.
‘He had absolutely no idea as to what took place on that day, as far as he knew he simply had not seen the moped.’
Mr Conley also told the court that the defendant had made the 999 call and that he broke down during the call.
Handing Hensby a community order, Judge Charles Gratwicke said: ‘You are still a very young man. You have your life. David Crow’s life has gone.
‘There is no sentence that I can pass, no sentence that can in anyway lessen the blow of his passing, lessen the pain to his family and friends.
‘As a result of your carelessness he has lost his life, that family has been left with a death as they struggle to come to terms with your actions.
‘Nobody who has read the victim’s impact statement can feel anything other than deep sorrow and sympathy for their loss and cannot help but feel for them, and feel their pain as they struggle to come to terms with the effect of your actions.’
Mr Crow, from Ingatestone, Essex, was a former journalist who worked at the Essex Chronicle and Brentwood Gazette from 1979 to 2011
Judge Gratwicke also told Hensby, who had three passengers in his car at the time of the crash, that any breach of the order would be reserved for him.
Judge Gratwicke: ‘I will deal with you, so bear that in mind, any breach will be for me. If you are tempted to breach any part of this order think of me waiting for you.’
Hensby, of Little Baddow, Essex, was also sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work and was disqualified from driving for two years.
In a statement, Mr Crow’s family said: ‘After 17 months we are relieved that this case has finally come to a close. Our family and David’s many friends and colleagues still miss David so much.
‘We would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation and the judge for imposing a lengthy driving ban.
‘We hope that Marc will reflect on his actions before getting behind the wheel of a car again.’
Mr Crow, from Ingatestone, Essex, was a former journalist who worked at the Essex Chronicle and Brentwood Gazette from 1979 to 2011.