Appearing in Nottingham Crown Court on February 10, lorry driver Colin Longbottom, of Woodhouse Road, Wakefield, was sentenced to four years and five months in jail and banned from driving for five years.
On December 12, 2024, 37-year-old Daniel Loft’s flatbed truck had broken down on the A46 near East Bridgford. He had just left his vehicle by the passenger-side door when both he and his truck were hit by a lorry driven by Longbottom. Loft sustained serious head injuries, and was rushed to intensive care, but died 18 days later, leaving behind a wife and two children.
CCTV footage recorded inside the cab of Longbottom’s vehicle shows him using an in-built touchscreen while driving. In court, he claimed he was attempting to turn off the vehicle’s fog lamps. He was looking at the screen for about 4 seconds immediately prior to the crash. Longbottom’s mobile phone was seized, and police analysis showed that he had been using the phone just minutes before the accident. His driving was judged to have fallen far below the standard of a competent and considerate driver, and he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Police forces are increasingly cracking down on mobile phone driving offences, with the latest technology helping to catch more offenders and resulting in more serious sentences.
If you are facing charges of dangerous driving, solicitors in our team can help you defend yourself, providing you with a high level of support and expert advice. Contact us as soon as possible, and let’s see how we can support you as your case moves forward.