Death Driver 'Never Had License'

BBC- A businessman, who drove off in his Jaguar sports car after hitting a young boy, who later died, had never had a driving licence, a court has heard.

The judge at Mold Crown Court accepted it had been an accident but jailing David Lunn, 61, from Wrexham, for 22 months, he said he had been "stupid".

Robbie Gaunt, nine, had been crossing the A539 with friends on 19 March.

Lunn admitted causing death by driving while unlicensed and uninsured and perverting the course of justice.

He had previous convictions, including one for drink-driving, and tried to cover up his involvement, the court heard.

Robbie was hit by Lunn's Jaguar XJ sport, and thrown into the path of a Ford Fiesta travelling the other way, while crossing the A539 at Overton on his bicycle.

He later died in Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool.

Lunn, a director of a company named Premier Bodies Ltd in St Martin's, near Oswestry, Shropshire, failed to stop and later arranged to have his bonnet and grille replaced.

He also burned part of his bumper and light fittings in a skip in the yard of his business.

But police visited the repair yard and found the Jaguar in the process of being repaired.

Other motorists, including a surgeon, stopped at the accident scene but Robbie later died.

In a statement Robbie's mother Dawn Richards said his death had left a big hole in her family's lives.

She said she had been left physically drained and unable to sleep.

His younger sister had been "greatly affected" and his elder brother had taken an overdose, she added.

His father Robert Jones said in a statement he felt "very angry" towards the defendant.

"He should have stopped after hitting Robbie. He should never be allowed to drive again. Nothing will bring him back. No sentence will ever be enough."

Sentencing Lunn, the judge, Mr Justice Nigel Davis said it was accepted that the collision was an accident.

But he said he had been driving for decades without a licence or insurance.

"It is stupid but it is also criminal," said the judge.

"It was not just that. You must have known at the time that you had been involved in a collision with a young child. A decent person would have stopped. You didn't.

"You then tried to cover up your involvement, going to quite elaborate lengths to repair your car and lie to other people about what the real reason was."

The judge also made a deprivation order in respect of the car.

North Wales Police said after the case that Lunn leaving the scene of the accident had caused "additional and unnecessary upset" to Robbie's family.

Chief Inspector Gary Ashton said "North Wales Police will find those responsible, no matter how hard people try to cover their tracks when a collision of this grave nature occurs and I would like to pay credit to all the officers involved in bringing this matter to a conclusion.

"This is the second incident in recent months where a driver has been involved in a fatal road traffic collision with a child and left the scene rather than face up to their responsibilities.

"The message is clear - we will eventually find you."