Appeal court doubles driver's senten
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A MOTORIST whose dangerous driving caused the death of a truck driver has had his "unduly lenient" 12-month jail term doubled.
Gary Baker from Hilton. Derbyshire was jailed at Derby Crown Court last December after pleading guilty to causing the death of Scott Byng by dangerous driving.
But London's Criminal Appeal Court has increased the sentence, rejecting the view of the trial judge that Baker's dangerous driving involved a"momentary"misjudgement. The appeal court also noted that the judge at the original trial had been unaware of Baker's two previous speeding convictions. However, the appeal court did not change the five-year driving ban imposed on Baker.
The accident happened in late 2004 when Baker. a professional driver in a private-hire ve was travelling along the dual carriageway.
He overtook two trucks II braking sharply to turn ii restaurant car park. The truck had to apply "maxi emergency braking" ane second vehicle, driven by ploughed into it.
Increasing the sentence. Justice Keene said: "This has said many times a vehicle driven dangei amounts to a lethal instrume do no accept that this was sir momentary misjudgemer the offender."