2011-05-17 - Rider Down/Fatality, Bell Farm Ave, Dagenham: Thomas Stone (13)

Sentencing seems way too lenient to me considering they were driving with no licence, no insurance and didn't stop at the scene

Two people have been sentenced for causing the death by careless
driving of 13-year-old Thomas Stone in Bell Farm Avenue Dagenham on 17
May 2011

On 23 March 2012 Nadia Roberts (5/7/90 - 21 yrs) of Bell Farm Avenue was
sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court to 12 months imprisonment,
disqualified from driving for three years, and required to pass an
extended driving test having pleaded guilty to causing death by careless
driving, causing death by no insurance and causing death by no licence.

Mark Headley (13/7/74 - 37 yrs) of Avenue Road, Harold Wood was
sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court to 8 months imprisonment,
disqualified from driving for 3 years and required to pass an extended
driving test having pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting causing death
by no insurance and aiding and abetting causing death by no licence.

Detective Constable Darren Case of the Road Death Investigation Unit
said:

"This is a tragic case which resulted in the death of Thomas Stone who
was just 13 years old at the time of the collision. This death could
have been avoided had Nadia Roberts and Mark Headley acted in a
responsible manner.

"Our sympathies remain with the family of Thomas Stone. We hope that the
sentences imposed by His Honour Judge King act as a deterrent to other
drivers who think they are above the law by driving without a licence or
insurance."

Thomas' mother Jane Gelderbloem said:

"No sentenced passed by any court will bring back my lovely Tommy. We
are still struggling to cope with our loss. We would like to thank
family, friends, Eastbrook School and officers from the Road Death
Investigation Unit for all their support.

"I hope people will learn from this tragedy and consider their actions
and the full possible consequences as I would not wish any other family
to suffer the pain that we have to endure. Thomas will never be
forgotten and will always be loved and forever missed."

Police were called at approx. 19:45 hrs on Tuesday, 17 May to reports of
a car and a cyclist in collision in Bell Farm Avenue, Dagenham.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found a blue
coloured Toyota Celica had been in collision with a 13-year-old boy on a
bicycle.

The cyclist died at the scene. Next of kin were informed.

He was Thomas Stone, 13 (24/04/98), a schoolboy from Dagenham.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the collision were carried out by
the Road Death Investigation Unit (RDIU) at Chadwell Heath Traffic
Garage.

The believed driver of the car, a 20-year-old woman ( now 21 years) left
the scene but later returned. She was arrested on suspicion of causing
death by dangerous driving and taken into custody at an east London
police station.
A believed passenger in the vehicle, a 36-year-old man ( now 37 years)
was also arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and
also taken into custody at an east London police station.

Both were later bailed to return pending further enquiries to a date in
mid October and then subsequently charged as above