£600 fine over death of ex-scout leader

Timothy Blake failed to see the approaching Citroen being driven by 50-year-old Terence Dovey and pulled out on to the Worcester Road, in Kidderminster.

Mr Dovey suffered a broken leg in the crash on June 3 last year and needed surgery.

He was discharged from hospital following the treatment on June 10.

But Kidderminster Magistrates Court yesterday heard Mr Dovey had been found dead at his home on June 25 by his wife. Magistrates were told he had suffered a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis caused by the fracture.

Mr Dovey's wife was a passenger in the car.

She had to be cut out of the vehicle by fire crews but suffered only cuts and bruises.

Blake, aged 33, of Tenby Street, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to an offence of causing death by careless driving at yesterday's hearing.

He was fined £600 and banned from the road for a year. Magistrates said they were satisfied the collision had been the result of a "momentary lapse of concentration".

Miss Sam Dixon, prosecuting, said: "Blake was waiting to pull out on to the Worcester Road from Whitehouse Road – turning right in the direction of Worcester.

"He pulled out into the path of Mr Dovey's car.

"Mr Dovey suffered a fractured tibia which required surgery. He was discharged from hospital.

"On his return home he and his wife had been sleeping in separate beds because of the pain in his leg. She went upstairs to wake him on June 25 but could get no response."

Miss Dixon said Blake had not been speeding and did not have any intoxicants in his system. He had stopped at the scene and waited for police.

Mr John Rogers, defending, said: "My client is very remorseful about what happened.

"There are no aggravating features he simply did not see the vehicle.

"Why we just do not know."

Chairman of the bench Mr Ian Hinksman said: "This came from a momentary lapse of concentration with tragic consequences."