OAP KILLER CAGED FOR KILLING 82 YEAR OLD
‘Scumbag’ bus driver who mowed down and killed great-granddad, 82, in broad daylight after lying to employers about his poor health and eyesight is jailed
Stephen Thompson hit Derek Coleman as he popped to the chemist to pick up his wife's prescription
25th February 2017,
A “SCUMBAG” bus driver who mowed down and killed an 82-year-old great-granddad in broad daylight after lying to employers about his poor health and eyesight has been jailed.
Stephen Thompson hit Derek Coleman as the pensioner popped to the chemist to pick up his wife’s prescription, after failing to check his blindspot while driving through Tilbury in Essex.
Thompson had not told bosses he suffered from Type-2 diabetes, which affected his eyesight, the court heard.
CCTV played in court showed the proud county bowls player being struck by Thompson, of no fixed abode, as he crossed a one-way road in the town centre August 20 2015.
Mr Coleman had begun crossing the road roughly five seconds before he was hit by the double decker bus, travelling at about 15mph.
Thompson, 49, admitted causing death by careless driving and lying to his employers, Ensign Bus Company, about his health.
Basildon Crown Court heard Thompson had struck Mr Coleman because he failed to check the bus’ blindspot.
It was revealed that just weeks before the accident Thompson had ploughed his car into three stationary vehicles and admitted careless driving – later telling docs his eye had also been damaged by an airbag.
After the crash Thompson’s eyesight was labelled “substandard” by doctors.
The outraged family of West Ham fan Mr Coleman slammed Thompson and said his wife Carole, 78, is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her carer and partner.
Prosecutor Matthew Bagnell said: “It was a vehicle and a route with which he was familiar with, it was a warm dry day in full daylight, visibility was good.
“The bus continued around Civic Square toward Mr Coleman who was walking steadily across the road with the aid of a walking stick, which he had in his right hand.
“The primary reason for Mr Thompson not seeing Mr Coleman until it was too late to avoid a collision was due to his vision being obscured by the structural elements in the bus.”
In mitigation Jide Lanlehin said: “The defendant has asked me to say to the court that he wholeheartedly takes full responsibility of what happened on that fateful day.
“He says this event will stay with him for the rest of his life and he has contemplated suicide a number of times and has had to take counselling.”
Judge John Lodge sentenced Thompson to a year in prison for fraud and causing death by careless driving, as well as banning him from the roads for three-and-a half-years.
He said: “Mr Coleman was a totally decent gentleman, a carer, a much loved husband, grandfather and friend. No sentence which this court employs can ever reflect and compensate for such a tragic loss
“What caused the tragic accident was that this defendant who drove a bus in the course of his employment did not see him.
“The was the cause of the accident there was a blind spot in the vehicle.”
Turning to Thompson’s lies about his health, the Judge said: “I consider that this was an aggravating factor.
“It is not an aggravating factor because it is a cause of the accident… it’s an aggravating factor because it discloses what might be described as a cavalier attitude towards the process of driving a motor vehicle.”
Speaking after sentencing Mr Coleman’s family paid tribute to the “Old School Dagenham Boy” and thanked the police for their help.
Accountant Andrew Coleman, 46, said: “We are happy he got a custodial sentence, but 12 months for what he has done seems to be paltry.
“The more I find out out about Thompson the more I think he is a scumbag
“He has a complete disregard to public safety and no remorse for killing someone.
“All you have to do is think how many school kids use the bus and you realise it was a death waiting to happen.”
The dad-of-two added: “My dad took to everyone and would talk to everyone.
“He has left a big hole in everyone’s life, it has just been terrible. We have got two young boys and they have been struggling and had outside help.
“The affect on my mum is terrible, he was her carer.”
Thompson admitted causing death by careless driving and dishonestly failing to disclose information to make a gain for himself.
He was sentenced to eight months for causing death by dangerous driving and four months for fraud.
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