Dad escapes jail after killing fiancee, her mum and father-of-four in U-Turn crash after getting lost on holiday

A careless driver that killed his fiancee, mother-in-law to be and a father-of-four after performing a U-Turn on a busy carriageway has escaped a jail sentence.

Jason Brooker admitted causing death by careless driving after pulling his Renault Megane into the path of motorcyclist Malcolm Batt while performing a U-Turn after getting lost on holiday.

Mr Batt, 55, died after he ploughed into the reversing car while out riding with a friend on the busy A259, a court heard

Brooker made the dangerous manoeuvre after he got lost traveling to a museum in Kent during a family holiday last May 10.

Brooker, 37, was left clutching his baby daughter in the aftermath of the horror smash as his passengers, fiancée Dawn Roberts and her mother Gloria Roberts died from their injuries.

 

Mr Batt's daughter Lizzie told Canterbury Crown Court in a victim impact statement how she heard her mother cry out when police officers arrived at their home to inform them of the crash.

She said: "Watching the strongest lady in the world crumble in front of you was devastating. I knew I could never make it better for her, for my brothers or for me."

Lizzie was tasked with telling her three brothers about their dads untimely death.

 

She said: "Everyone says time is a healer but at the moment time seems to make me feel like I'm moving further from him, further from the day I last saw him and everyday I wish more and more that he will return home.

"I will forever miss seeing him walk through the door after a long day's work with the biggest grin across his face, cracking the most awful jokes."

Brooker, of Birmingham, was given a 12-month suspended sentence on May 3.

He was also banned from driving for three years, requiring to take an extended test as well as ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

 

Judge Simon James said it had been a "momentary lapse of attention" when Brooker tried to turn around his car but but failed to spot Malcolm's bike.

He said: "That has led to the untimely loss of a loving father and husband, a young mother and cherished soulmate and her mother.

"It is impossible not to be touched by the sheer pain these offenses have caused so many."

Detective Sergeant Scott Lynch of the serious collision investigation unit added: "This was a tragic and preventable incident.

"Three people lost their lives over a poor rash judgement.

"I cannot stress enough the importance of planning your journey and taking extra care if you are unfamiliar with an area.

"I hope that the sentence will offer the families of the victims an element of closure and the opportunity to move forward with their lives."