This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-48066113
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Wareham toddler crossing death lorry driver jailed | Wareham toddler crossing death lorry driver jailed |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A delivery driver who knocked down and killed a toddler on a pedestrian crossing has been jailed for a year. | A delivery driver who knocked down and killed a toddler on a pedestrian crossing has been jailed for a year. |
| Dean Phoenix drove his Sainsbury's lorry through a red light in Wareham, Dorset, as three-year-old Jaiden Mangan was crossing with his mum. | Dean Phoenix drove his Sainsbury's lorry through a red light in Wareham, Dorset, as three-year-old Jaiden Mangan was crossing with his mum. |
| During sentencing at Bournemouth Crown Court, Jaiden's father stormed out, shouting: "Is that it? You got a year for killing my son?" | During sentencing at Bournemouth Crown Court, Jaiden's father stormed out, shouting: "Is that it? You got a year for killing my son?" |
| Phoenix, 44, had admitted causing death by careless driving, in March 2018. | Phoenix, 44, had admitted causing death by careless driving, in March 2018. |
| But on Thursday, the jury cleared him of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving. | But on Thursday, the jury cleared him of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving. |
| Jaiden was on a balance bike as he, his mother Yasmin Dougan and sister set out across North Street when Phoenix, from Chineham, Basingstoke, approached the crossing. | |
| He told the jury he thought the lights were still green as he tried to manoeuvre around an illegally parked car on zig-zag lines next to the crossing, the court was told. | He told the jury he thought the lights were still green as he tried to manoeuvre around an illegally parked car on zig-zag lines next to the crossing, the court was told. |
| But, as he reached the crossing the lights had turned red, and he admitted that in "a split-second mistake" he had failed to check them properly. | But, as he reached the crossing the lights had turned red, and he admitted that in "a split-second mistake" he had failed to check them properly. |
| Phoenix bowed his head as victim statements were read to the court. | Phoenix bowed his head as victim statements were read to the court. |
| Ms Dougan told Phoenix: "You have destroyed my life and it will never be the same." | Ms Dougan told Phoenix: "You have destroyed my life and it will never be the same." |
| Jaiden's father James Mangan, said Jaiden's seven-year-old sister should not have had to "witness what she did that day". | Jaiden's father James Mangan, said Jaiden's seven-year-old sister should not have had to "witness what she did that day". |
| Paul Rogers, defending, said the car parked on the zig-zag lines had contributed to the situation. | Paul Rogers, defending, said the car parked on the zig-zag lines had contributed to the situation. |
| He said the driver, Graham Booker, was "perhaps fortunate to only have been charged with careless driving himself". | He said the driver, Graham Booker, was "perhaps fortunate to only have been charged with careless driving himself". |
| Booker, 71, of North Street, Wareham, admitted motoring offences at a hearing in November. He was ordered to pay £380 and given a three-year driving ban. | |
| Judge Jonathan Fuller QC said he was satisfied Phoenix was remorseful. | Judge Jonathan Fuller QC said he was satisfied Phoenix was remorseful. |
| "No sentence passed by a court can make up for the tragic consequences of that day," he said. | "No sentence passed by a court can make up for the tragic consequences of that day," he said. |
| Phoenix was disqualified from driving for 18 months. | Phoenix was disqualified from driving for 18 months. |