A South Tyneside woman who caused the death of a motorcyclist in a collision on Christmas Day has avoided a prison sentence.
Susan Gourley, 53, failed to stop at a junction after leaving her shift at the Quorn factory in Billingham, on December 25, 2020. She turned right at a T-junction, and collided with 32-year-old motorcyclist Michael Crooks who died in the lunchtime collision.
Gourley, of Jarrow, denied causing his death by dangerous driving but was convicted by a unanimous jury after a trial in December. Today she was handed an eight-month prison term, suspended for two years and was disqualified from driving for three years, TeessideLive reports.
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The court heard that Mr Crooks was travelling at speeds of 115mph before the crash and that he had taken cannabis. But Judge Jonathan Carroll said that "the moment she passed that stop line, a collision was inevitable."
After her arrest, Gourley told police that she had seen a motorcyclist's helmet to her right, as she looked across the fields towards Belasis Avenue, before she turned onto the road.
She said that she wasn't sure what the rider was doing, but that she thought he may have been zigzagging in the road. When Gourley approached the T-junction, she had her car radio on, and failed to stop to check that the road was clear.
Michael Crooks' family sat silently in the public gallery, as prosecutor Jolyon Perks read out a statement from Mr Crooks' dad, who said that his son "would have done anything" for his family: "He was a big family man - he loved spending time with his cousins. He would do anything for his family.
"Since his death, our family has not been the same. He went out on Christmas Day on his motorcycle and never came back. He was our son. He was our gentle giant."
In mitigation for Gourley, Stephen Constantine said that his client had never had "so much as a speeding ticket"; that she has no driving or criminal convictions. The court heard that Gourley was so upset by what had happened, that she hasn't driven since, and is on long term sick leave from her job as a laboratory technician at Quorn.
"She has expressed what has been described as extreme sorrow and remorse. Her therapist has written to the court - he describes how her body often shook with overwhelming thoughts about what has happened" said Mr Constantine, before he asked the judge to consider "stepping back" from a custodial sentence.
Judge Jonathan Carroll told Gourley: " This is a case that is an absolute and total tragedy. First of all, a tragedy for Michael Crooks, who was 34 at the time of his death and who had everything to live for.
"I recognise that you have lived a blameless life. It has had a profound impact on you because you genuinely feel a sense of guilt over what has happened. And so I repeat, that this is a tragedy for everyone involved. I cannot give what everyone would want most, which is to bring Michael back.
"I am satisfied that neither the drugs or his speed were causative to any degree, to the incident. The incident became inevitable the moment you crossed the give way line. You denied yourself, and Mr Crooks, any chance of avoiding this collision.
"I accept that this incident has had a profound impact on you both emotionally and psychologically. It has had an impact on your own desire to live. There is no good outcome in a case such as this. It would be disproportionate to impose an immediate custodial sentence."
Michael Crooks' family left the courtroom in tears.
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