A driver has been jailed for five years after causing a crash which left a motorcyclist dead.
Nathaniel Simpson, 37, was also banned from driving for seven and a half years after he was convicted of causing the death of 57-year-old Brighton man, Thomas Hoare, who was living in Redgeland Rise, St Leonards.
Simpson emerged unscathed from the crash which happened when he overtook a lorry close to a blind bend while behind the wheel of his black 3-series BMW.
In court, he denied causing death by dangerous driving on the A21 Vinehall Road, at Whatlington, on Monday 6 May 2024.
But Beverly Cripps, prosecuting, said that he was at fault and a jury found him guilty at the end of a week-long trial at Hove Crown Court last month before Judge Roger Chapple.
Yesterday (Wednesday 9 September), Judge Chapple sentenced Simpson at Brighton Crown Court.
Judge Chappell told Simpson: “Sadly, no sentence I pass can turn back the clock and any sentence I pass does not replace the life that was lost that day.
“Your driving record is not impressive. Your previous driving has attracted the attention of the police on three earlier occasions.
“This is an accident caused as you chose to overtake when it was plainly unsafe.
“Firstly, the weather was atrocious with torrential rain and you overtook on double white lines on a blind bend.
“And secondly, you were doing over the 50mph speed limit which was highly inappropriate for the prevailing weather conditions.”
The emergency services were called to the crash scene at about 7.25am on Monday 6 May 2024 to reports of a collision involving three cars and a motorbike.
As well as Simpson’s BMW, Sussex Police said that a grey Honda Jazz, a white Nissan and a gold Triumph Bonneville motorcycle were also damaged.
Mr Hoare was pronounced dead at the scene and police arrested Simpson, of Calvert Close, in Sidcup, south east London, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Sussex Police said: “Nathaniel Simpson was driving his black BMW southbound on the A21 at Whatlington on the morning of Monday 6 May 2024, a journey he took regularly.
“During this journey, he overtook a flatbed lorry, contravening the double solid white lines.
“He collided with a grey Honda Jazz travelling in the opposite direction – and on the correct carriageway – which caused significant offside damage as the driver attempted to avoid a head-on collision.
“The impact caused the Honda to leave the carriageway where it struck a bank. Fortunately, the driver and passenger escaped with minor injuries.
“As the BMW continued to rotate in the road, in wet and slippery conditions, it struck a Triumph motorcycle which was also travelling in the opposite direction and on the correct side of the road.
“The 57-year-old male rider, from Brighton, was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The police operation, Op Bowden, led to the prosecution that ended with Simpson being sentenced yesterday.
An inquest into Mr Hoare’s death was opened and adjourned on Tuesday 21 May 2024. A date has yet to be set for the inquest to be resumed.
