Doctor jailed for killing biker when overtaking

Dr Hammanjulde Hammawa admitted causing death by dangerous driving

A doctor whose dangerous driving caused the death of a father-of-two has been jailed for three years.

Dr Hammanjulde Hammawa, from Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, was overtaking an HGV when he crashed his black Mercedes car into 40-year-old Maciej Stepien, who was riding a silver Yamaha motorcycle.

The crash happened on the morning of 29 November 2022 on the B645 Chelveston Road near the Northamptonshire village of Hargrave.

Having initially denied causing death by dangerous driving, 65-year-old Hammawa changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court to three years in prison.

The court heard that the consultant was late for a clinic at the Irthlingborough Nene Clinic when he crossed double white lines on the B645 to overtake and collided with the motorbike.

Mr Stepien, who lived in Northampton and worked for an IT firm in Cambridgeshire, died at the scene.

A victim impact statement was read out by Joanna, Mr Stepien's wife and mother of his two children, at the sentencing hearing.

"Maciej wasn't just a statistic, or just another senseless casualty of dangerous and irresponsible driving," she said.

"Maciej was a very rare and extraordinary man of many talents, skills and passions, and a great personality."

She described her husband as "a wonderful father and a great role model to our children who were only four and six when he passed away".

"It is heartbreaking to know that their father will not teach them how to ride a bike or build a bookcase, or fend for themselves. There will be no more memories."

'Reckless actions'

Hammawa was also disqualified from driving for six years and six months.

Det Con Lee Norton, from Northamptonshire Police's Serious Collision Investigation Team, was the lead investigator following the crash.

He said: "Maciej died because of one person's decision to make a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre and I truly hope Mr Hammawa understands the pain he has caused as a result of his reckless actions that day.

"This case is a lesson to all road users to ensure you allow yourself enough time for any journey you wish to make.

"On this day, Mr Hammawa did not do this, instead making a split-second decision in his rush not to be late that cost Maciej his life.

"No sentence can ever make up for the loss of Maciej."