Mobile phone warning as distracted driver jailed

John Stanley, 76, was killed on the M6 in Cumbria by a distracted driver

The family of a man who was killed in a crash has warned of the dangers of using a mobile phone as his killer was sentenced.

Motorcyclist John Stanley, 76, from Bradford, died last April after he was hit by a car on the M6 in Cumbria.

Jesse Rees, 27, of Brougham Street, Penrith, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to 40 months imprisonment after he admitted to causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Mr Stanley's family said they hoped the conviction would help "prevent other families from enduring the heartache we are experiencing".

On the evening of 23 April 2023, Rees was driving a Peugeot Bipper van between junctions 41 and 42 of the M6, when it collided with a Honda motorbike, Cumbria Police said.

Mr Stanley, who was riding the motorbike, was taken to hospital but died the following day.

Jesse Rees admitted to causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing

Investigations showed that Rees' phone had been accessed a couple of minutes before the crash and that, during that time, numerous apps had been closed, or opened and closed.

This, alongside no physical evidence to indicate pre-impact braking, led officers to conclude that Rees had been distracted by his phone, which left him with no chance to react to the situation.

Rees was also sentenced to a 92-month driving ban and must also sit an extended re-test before being able to drive again.

'Heartache'

The family of Mr Stanley released a statement which said the conviction marked "the end of a long and painful chapter".

"He was taken from us far too soon and the grief we feel is beyond words."

The statement added: "While no sentence can ever bring him back, we hope this conviction serves as a stark reminder of the importance of not of using a mobile phone while driving and helps prevent other families from enduring the heartache we are experiencing."

Det Sgt Deborah Story from Cumbria Police's serious collision investigation unit added: "This was a terrible but entirely avoidable tragedy which resulted in an entirely innocent and blameless motorcyclist losing his life."