A speeding motorist who admitted careless driving after an accident in which a 30-year-old pedestrian died today had his two-year driving ban cut at London's Court of Appeal.

Labourer Terry Mitchell, 19, of Queen Elizabeth Way, Monkwick, Colchester, was banned from driving for two years and fined £500 at Chelmsford Crown Court in August after admitting careless driving.

But Mr Justice Pitchford, sitting with Judge John Griffith Williams at the Appeal Court, cut the disqualification to one year, saying Mitchell's driving "could not be described as deliberate risk-taking".

The mother of the 30-year-old victim was today in court to hear the judges' decision and was visibly upset at the ruling.

The judges said Mitchell had been travelling at about 47mph in a 30mph zone in Colchester when the victim, Christopher Vincent, ran out in front of his car in February.

Halving Mitchell's driving ban, Mr Justice Pitchford said the accident had resulted from a "combination" of Mitchell's excessive speed and the fact the victim was "intoxicated" and had run out into the road without warning.

"Having assessed Mitchell's culpability, we think the crown court judge was somewhat too harsh on him, and we shall reduce the period of disqualification from two years to 12 months."

Published Thursday November 27, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette