Death crash driver walks free

Robert Brown, 31, ploughed his BMW Z3 Coupe into a Toyota driven by Joseph McCarney, 66, from Western Road, Lewes, on the A27 near the Southeram Roundabout on August 1 last year.

On Tuesday Brown, a marketing executive from Wokingham, was banned from driving and fined after being found guilty of careless driving at Lewes Magistrates Court.

But following the trial Mr McCarney's family said Brown should have been tried for causing death by dangerous driving, an offence which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

In court Mr McCarney's widow, Christine McCarney, 58, said: 'What has been called carelessness has robbed Joe of a long and happy retirement.

'He saw it as being born again and was full of ideas for our future together.

'He has been robbed of the joy of his grandchildren Rose and now Stanley, whose birth he was so looking forward to.

'Joe taught his children to drive and always impressed upon them that a car was a dangerous weapon.

'He showed that to drive without care showed contempt for other people's lives.'

Engineering works were being carried out at the time of the accident and Brown mistook a single lane road for a dual carriageway.

The court heard he went past several signs warning of two-way traffic on the 40mph road - before overtaking a car in front and smashing into Mr McCarney at 50mph

At his trial Brown said he did not see the signs.

Mr McCarney, a former university lecturer and author, was driving home from the Ram Inn with his wife who suffered serious injuries.

Mrs McCarney said she had 'no idea' how to cope with life without her husband.

Brown, who has one previous conviction for speeding, had been on his way to catch a ferry in Newhaven.

He suffered an injury to his hand and his wife Louise, who was nine weeks' pregnant, had slight injuries

David O'Driscoll, prosecuting, said: 'The very fact that Mr Brown was unfamiliar with the road imposed a greater duty on him to take care.'

Chief Magistrate Hal Hagan said Brown 'failed to take heed of signs which he should have seen.'

Brown, of Wokingham, Berks, was ordered to pay 2,000, plus 1,000 costs, and was disqualified for 15 months.