Man given suspended sentence for causing death of Mansfield man

Richard Gregory, 58, was driving west on Anchor Lane, Ingoldmells, towards the A52 in a Mercedes E-Class convertible, at around 12.30pm on Saturday, August 12, 2023, when he collided with a pedestrian crossing the road outside the entrance to Hardy’s Animal Farm.

Sadly, the pedestrian, Gary Stephens, 63, of Forest Town, Mansfield, died at the scene.

Gregory, of Chapelfield Crescent, Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, who had no previous convictions or driving endorsements, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court to six months imprisonment suspended for one year, having been found guilty by a jury of causing death by careless driving following a trial. He was also banned from driving for 12 months.

Following an extensive investigation by Lincolnshire Police’s Serious and Forensic Collision Investigation Units Gregory was charged with the one offence that he was sentenced for at court. Technical examinations of the vehicle found no issues that were contributory in the collision.

It was established during the investigation that Gregory had turned left out of The Chase and Grange Holiday Centre onto Anchor Lane and had accelerated down the road which is subject to a 40mph limit. Anchor Lane during the summer season is a busy area with holiday parks located along its length. Investigators established that at the time of the collision that Gregory was travelling at approximately 50mph, which was in excess of the speed limit for that road.

Investigators further established that the front offside of Gregory’s vehicle struck Mr Stephens as he crossed over the road, causing Mr Stephens to be thrown into the air, striking the windscreen, before landing on the road.

While Mr Stephens may have been initially obscured by other vehicles as he crossed, Gregory’s speed meant that he would not have been able to avoid the collision.

In interview, Gregory stated that he had passed a couple of oncoming cars and Mr Stephens only came into view at the last moment.

He also stated that he braked and swerved to try and avoid the collision, but the front of his car struck Mr Stephens.

Detective Sergeant Adam Doona, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision was due to the careless driving of Gregory when he chose to accelerate up to about 50 mph in a 40mph limit.

“This choice meant that there was no way for Gregory to avoid colliding with Mr Stephens, and a higher speed will always cause more severe injuries, particularly to a pedestrian.

“However, speed limits are just that – they are not a target. Drivers should always ensure that the speed they are travelling at is within the limit and suitable for all the conditions present.

“In busy areas, particularly where there may be pedestrians, the actual permitted limit may not be suitable at the time you are travelling on it. Therefore, you should adjust your speed accordingly, to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users.”