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Justice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)"There's no justice" says family after release of lorry driver who killed cyclist four months into 16-month sentence
The family of a cyclist killed by a Sainsbury’s lorry driver has expressed disappointment that the man responsible was released from prison just four months into a 16-month sentence. "What is the point in giving a sentence if you're going to be let out?” said the victim’s brother.
In August 2018, 61-year-old Stephen Gibbons was riding his bike to work on the A322 in Berkshire at when he was struck by a Scania lorry driven by Vincent Cassar.
Cassar initially drove off, claiming he thought he had hit a deer. Shortly afterwards, driving back past the scene, he saw police and pulled over realising something more serious had happened.
He told officers he believed he might have been involved in the collision and ultimately pleaded guilty to causing Gibbons’ death by careless driving.
He was handed a 16-month prison sentence and a three-year driving ban.
Bracknell News reports that the family was told that Cassar would be released in October, eight months into his sentence. However, the Ministry of Justice has since said that he was released in June.
“We expected him to serve half a sentence, but less than half is disappointing,” said Gibbons’ brother, Alan.
“We waited a year and a half to get justice for my brother and if he had held his hands up then I could accept that – but he didn't even plead guilty until the evidence was so stacked up against him.
"Doing this has just wasted taxpayers’ money, police time and there's no justice, it just sticks in my throat and that's what really hurts me.”
Cassar was released after being judged eligible for the Home Detention Curfew scheme.
A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Offenders released on Home Detention Curfew are strictly supervised through the use of electronic monitoring and can be returned to prison for breaching their licence conditions.”
Gibbons’ family have also previously complained that they did not hear from Sainsbury’s until February of this year.
His son, Kyle, called for "meaningful recompense" from the supermarket, saying: "I have strong feelings about Sainsbury's role and culpability in the killing of my dad."
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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15 comments
Just shocking. How can another human's life be shown such disrespect by our legal system?! And to make it worse, it is only a very small minority that give a damn that this sort of stuff is going on. Those who are afforded a platform to speak out (Clarkson, Freeeman, Farage - be ashamed!) choose to use it to show us hatred and moan about how their SUV journey is being impeded by us. And the very same clowns are baying for Anne Sacoolas, Harry Dunn's killer, to be brought back to this country to face trial - what is the point if this is what justice looks like for killing someone on two wheels?! There are thousands of people who do not need to be extradited back to Britain to face justice - they live here - and we choose as a nation to let them off again and again. What sort of society have we become?
I feel so much sympathy for the family of Harry Dunn, but even if "justice" is done, it's "momentary lapse of concentration" "every foreigners worst nightmare" "regret" and a suspended sentence with a small driving ban.
It would just pile disappointment onto their incredible loss.
Driving innit...
The family of Harry Dunn have one huge advantage in this - Harry's two wheeled vehicle had an internal combustion engine and is therefore considered a real road user rather than a child's toy.
When did his 3 year disqualification start?
On date of sentencing or his release date? Or, admittedly unlikely but fairer, temporary disqualification until theoretical end of 16 month sentence and then the 3 year disqualification starts?
The driver was 65 at the time of the accident/sentencing, so he's due a re-test at 70 anyway.
I can't imagine Sainsbury's re-employing a disqualified driver in these unfortunate circumstances.
Lots of unemployed yet Sainsburys is happy to employ those just released from prison.
Should they be congratulated for their charity or reflect upon their recuitment policy?
Not sure whether he has been reemployed by Sainsburys.
But in general, I would hope that companies are willing to employ people who come out of prison, where there is no relevant risk in doing so.
It's highly unlikely he will get another driving job because of the insurance problems associated with his conviction. Most companies simply won't quote in these circumstances and those few that do will want a king's ransom for cover. And a good thing too.
Indeed, as I said as long i there is no relevant risk. But not employing folk just because they've been to prison is uncharitable at the very least, and from a societal point of view completely counter productive.
Bet he's back driving soon, too.
Any idea if Sainsburys sacked him?
He went to prison so it's fair to say, one way or another, his employment was terminated.
This is further evidence, as if any was needed, that killing a cyclist does not count as a 'real' offence. This is what will happen when you are killed during that close pass: "I didn't stand a chance, the cyclist suddenly pulled across the road in front of me".
Keeping him in prison won't bring <cyclist> back!
Still better than the suspended sentence for killing the old bloke cyclist (younger than me!) near Aberystwyth because 'the sun was in my eyes'.
Usual bullshit from a motorcentric judicial system. Yet nothing is ever done? Absofuckinglutely disgraceful!
Did you see a deer before you drove into it and killed it? Did you see a cyclist before you drove into them and killed them? Were you paying attention to the road at all at the time? Were you doing anything else other than concentrating on driving at the time? You disgust me and should be removed from society for ever.
He wasn't concentrating on driving at the time.
This was from a frontal impact heavy enough for an LGV driver to be aware of it. Cassar was not watching the road. If he had been there is no way that he would not have been aware of Mr Gibbons in front of him.
My deepest condolences to his loved ones, on this 2nd blow to the family.
Agreed.
This is another insult to the family and friends of this poor man.
Heartless driver, judge and business ;-(