The family of a car crash victim spoke out today after a man was fined £500 for careless driving.

Stephen Pluck, 45, of Maldon Road, Great Totham, died from his injuries in a road smash on the A120 at Broad Green, Little Tey, in February.

The accident was caused as Shaun Pryke, wearing heavy work boots, tried to avoid Mr Pluck's car in front. But instead of hitting the brake, self-employed car mechanic Pryke repeatedly hit the clutch pedal, losing vital braking time.

Pryke, 28, of Atlas Road, Earls Colne, who admitted careless driving, was fined £500.

Speaking after the court case held yesterday, widow Margaret Pluck said: "I don't think it was fairly done. That's all I want to say."

They had been married for 20 years.

Magistrates' chairman Rosemary Heaney said: "No penalty will compensate a family for the loss of a father."

Kirstie Beecroft, prosecuting, said Mr Pluck and his teenage son Tristan, the car driver, had been travelling in the direction of Colchester at 50-55mph when a BMW travelling at about 20-30 mph faster came up behind them at an "uncomfortably close distance."

On spotting a Mercedes waiting to turn right into Elm Lane, the Pluck's Renault car began to brake but was struck from behind by Pryke shunting it into the Mercedes. A fourth car, a Volkswagen, was also involved.

Mr Pluck's son escaped injury in the crash.

Pryke told police he was travelling at about 50-60 mph along the road, which had a 60mph speed limit, and was about 150 yards behind the Renault when it braked.

Mitigating, Joanne Eley said he admitted vital seconds had been lost when he went to brake, hitting the clutch instead because of his heavy boots, giving him no time to take avoiding action before hitting the Renault.

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