This is the face of the learner driver who killed a grandad as he cycled to work. Ravi Singh Ratthore should not have been behind the wheel when he ploughed into Roger Parris, Minshull Street Crown Court heard yesterday (July 5).
Tears were shed as 13 of Mr Parris' loved ones packed the public gallery in courtroom four and tributes were paid to their 'beacon of strength' with a 'zest for life'. His life was tragically cut short months before his planned retirement.
The court heard Mr Parris, a milkman from Salford, was cycling along Centenary Bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal while on his way to work in Eccles.
Mr Parris had been cycling on the main carriageway at around 12.50am on December 20, 2021, having previously complained about the 'state of repair of the cycle path'. Prosecuting, John Kennerley said Mr Parris was wearing a helmet and reflective clothing, while his bicycle had functioning lights on the front and rear and the road was 'illuminated by street lights'.
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But Singh Ratthore, 22, failed to notice the experienced cyclist before driving into him from behind. Despite only holding a provisional licence, Singh Ratthore drove a silver Volkswagen Golf unsupervised and without L plates, the court heard.
CCTV footage captured Singh Ratthore driving behind Mr Parris on the inside lane, while a BMW was driven 'almost parallel' to his Golf in the outside lane. Greater Manchester Police estimated the two cars were travelling at between 52mph and 58mph, on a road with a 40mph limit.
The court heard how Singh Ratthore felt the BMW's occupants had been 'acting in a hostile way', but he continued to drive alongside them. Singh Ratthore's phone record also showed he had made a phone call before the collision, but his car had a hands-free function and the prosecution could not say if that had not been used.
Mr Kennerley said that while the BMW was seen breaking before approaching Mr Parris, the brake lights of the Golf driven by Singh Ratthore only illuminated after the 63-year-old had been hit. "It appears [Singh Ratthore] was oblivious to Mr Parris on his bike and drove straight into the back of Mr Parris," he said.
The court heard Singh Ratthore continued to drive with a damaged windscreen, before returning using two roundabouts. By the time he was back at the scene, a member of the public had already stopped to call emergency services.
Mr Parris was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, but was pronounced dead after 1.30am. A post-mortem heard he had suffered a significant head impact, fractures of the spine and multiple chest fractions.
Mr Kennerley said Singh Ratthore had also called 999 and claimed his aunt had been in the car, but he had dropped her off after 'she was panicking'. He later claimed to police that he had 'blacked out' with his aunt in the car, and when he had come around she had left.
The court heard Singh Ratthore, who had no previous convictions, answered 'no comment' while questioned by police in January 2022. Defending, Neil Ronan said Singh Ratthore had been suffering from anxiety and depression after being assaulted in 2017, but was a mentor to young people in his community and cared for his grandmother.
The barrister added that while his client 'ought not to have been driving', he decided to drive in response to 'concerns' he had about his partner. But the judge, His Honour Matthew Corbett-Jones, insisted this was 'an explanation, but not an excuse'.
Singh Latthore pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention, and causing death whilst driving not in accordance to his provisional licence, having been unsupervised while hitting Mr Parris. Singh Ratthore, of Lime Crescent, Old Trafford, was sentenced to 14 months in prison and will be eligible for release on licence.
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Judge Corbett-Jones insisted the incident had not been 'a brief moment of inattention' from Singh Latthore and that Mr Parris had been 'plainly visible for a significant period of time'. "You should not have been on the road at all without supervision," he told Singh Latthore.
"There were plenty of opportunities for you to pull over and call for assistance if you considered the other vehicle a threat to you." Singh Ratthore was also disqualified from driving for three years and seven months, with Judge Corbett-Jones ordering the defendant to take an extended driving test before being allowed behind the wheel again.
