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Texting death crash peer jailed Texting death crash peer jailed
(20 minutes later)
A Labour peer who sent and received text messages minutes before he was involved in a fatal crash on the M1 has been jailed for 12 weeks.A Labour peer who sent and received text messages minutes before he was involved in a fatal crash on the M1 has been jailed for 12 weeks.
Lord Ahmed, 51, was driving his Jaguar when he hit a stationary car in the outside lane of the motorway on Christmas Day 2007.Lord Ahmed, 51, was driving his Jaguar when he hit a stationary car in the outside lane of the motorway on Christmas Day 2007.
The driver of the other vehicle, Martyn Gombar, 28, was killed.The driver of the other vehicle, Martyn Gombar, 28, was killed.
Lord Ahmed, of Rotherham, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court. He had admitted driving dangerously.Lord Ahmed, of Rotherham, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court. He had admitted driving dangerously.
The crash happened near to junction 35 of the southbound carriageway at Rotherham.The crash happened near to junction 35 of the southbound carriageway at Rotherham.
Mr Gombar was Slovakian but was living in Leigh, Greater Manchester, at the time of his death.Mr Gombar was Slovakian but was living in Leigh, Greater Manchester, at the time of his death.
By reason of the prolonged, deliberate, repeated and highly dangerous driving for which you have pleaded guilty, only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified Mr Justice Wilkie
His Audi car was stationary facing the wrong way in the third lane of the motorway because Mr Gombar, who had been drinking, had crashed into the central reservation and the car had spun around.His Audi car was stationary facing the wrong way in the third lane of the motorway because Mr Gombar, who had been drinking, had crashed into the central reservation and the car had spun around.
Driving ban
One motorist had already clipped it with his car and another had to take emergency action to avoid the vehicle.One motorist had already clipped it with his car and another had to take emergency action to avoid the vehicle.
The court had heard how Lord Ahmed sent and received a series of five text messages while driving in the dark at speeds of, and above, 60mph along a 17-mile stretch of the motorway.The court had heard how Lord Ahmed sent and received a series of five text messages while driving in the dark at speeds of, and above, 60mph along a 17-mile stretch of the motorway.
The judge, Mr Justice Wilkie, said that the text messaging had finished before the accident took place and was not connected to the fatal incident. His elderly mother and his wife were passengers in his car at the time of the crash.
But he said that using a mobile phone while driving at speeds of 60mph was highly dangerous and only a custodial sentence would be appropriate. Driving ban
Lord Ahmed's elderly mother and his wife were passengers in his car at the time of the crash. Lord Ahmed stared straight forward in the dock as the judge passed sentence.
He will serve half of his sentence in jail and half on licence. He was also banned from driving for a year. Mr Justice Wilkie made clear the texting incident had no bearing on the fatal collision.
He said: "After a full and thorough police investigation it's clear the dangerous driving had no causal link to the accident."
But he said: "It is of the greatest importance that people realise what a serious offence dangerous driving of this type is.
"I have come to the conclusion that by reason of the prolonged, deliberate, repeated and highly dangerous driving for which you have pleaded guilty, only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified."
Earlier, Jeremy Baker QC, defending Lord Ahmed, put a series of points of mitigation to the judge including the peer's years of service to the community and the country.
The barrister also pointed to Lord Ahmed's attempts to help Mr Gombar and how he took it upon himself to warn other motorists about the incident at some personal risk to himself.
Lord Ahmed will serve half of his sentence in jail and half on licence. He was also banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs.