A dentist from Hove has been banned from the road for a year after he admitted killing a motorcyclist.
Dan Roworth, 48, of Shirley Drive, Hove, was driving a white Mercedes CLS400 when he crashed into 59-year-old Simon Tofield, from Herstmonceux, who was riding a blue BMW K1600GT.
Mr Tofield died at the scene on the A22 at Little Horsted near Uckfield.
Roworth had been heading north along the road when he tried to do a U-turn between between the Little Horsted and Copwood roundabouts shortly before 8am on Thursday 21 July last year.
He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.
And on Friday (10 February) he was banned from driving and given a 12-month community order to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
Lead investigator Sergeant Richard Hornsey, from the roads policing serious collision investigation unit, said: “This case highlights how a momentary lapse of judgment can have tragic consequences and affect the lives of so many people.
“All road users have a responsibility to ensure that the road is clear before they undertake any manoeuvre and they must take sufficient time to confirm that is the case.”
Roworth works for Mermaid Dental Care which has clinics in Lewes and Crowborough.
Nice post – so now people can completely destroy this guys life and career. He may have killed the guy, but who knows if he is sitting at home right now wishing he had never been born – and you guys blow it up on the front page, tell us where he works, and a nice flashy picture of his face. Just so people know who to check the bricks at.
I ride a motorcycle, and if someone “accidentally” knocked me off, or even killed me – is that anyone elses problem but mine and my family? Or should every idiot know “who dun it” so they can also point and stare? Disgusting
It is important to publish the facts so as to make motorcyclists aware of how vulnerable they are and to make drivers aware that a moments lack of concentration can result in devastation for many.
I note you only mentioned the ‘devastation’ in relation to how it may affect the dentist, failing to mention the greater devastation for the motorcyclists, wife, daughters, sister, brother and grandchild.
Part of the ‘punishment’ for doing wrong, is the embarrassment of being publicly shamed. If you genuinely were aproperjournalist, you’d know that the motorcyclists family showed great compassion for this man, despite their loss and being genuinely devastated.
This is a stretch of 60 mph road with a roundabout at each end. The guy did a u turn in rush hour without looking properly leading to the death of an innocent motorcyclist. Another minute and he could have used the roundabout to turn back. The £85 victim surcharge is an insult to the family of the deceased. He should have been sent to prison for at least 5 years for this. Every car driver should be forced to take a motorcycling test, the standard of driving would be vastly improved and people might just then look out for other road users when making potential dangerous manoeuvers.