Harry Dennis death: Van driver jailed after 11-year-old killed in crash

Harry Dennis was killed by a scaffolding board while travelling with his family in his dad's car

A van driver has been jailed for causing the death of an 11-year-old boy who died after being struck by an unsecured scaffolding board.

Harry Dennis, who was hit while in a car being driven by his father, was taken to hospital after the crash in Hooe, East Sussex, but died days later.

Russell Le Beau, 34, from Eastbourne had early admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He has been jailed for four years at a hearing at Lewes Crown Court.

He had failed to secure scaffolding boards on the back of his van, Sussex Police said.

One of the boards was left suspended in mid-air at an angle from the Ford Transit flatbed van across the opposite carriageway, police said.

The Health and Safety Executive said there was nothing to prevent the movement of the scaffolding boards

A police spokesman said: "It gave Lee Dennis, the driver of a Volkswagen Passat in the opposite direction, no time to react to prevent a collision."

Investigators found the wooden boards on Le Beau's van had only been clamped down by a metal pole at one end, with no straps, net or tarpaulin securing them.

Mr Dennis was driving with his 11-year-old son Harry in the front passenger seat and his 13-year-old daughter in the rear.

"The scaffolding board struck the windscreen of the vehicle and caused serious injuries to Harry, who had to be flown to Kings College Hospital in London," the police spokesman said.

Russell Le Beau was jailed for four years

Le Beau, a scaffolder from Alexandra Road, Eastbourne, was sentenced to four years in prison, and disqualified from driving for seven years.

A report from the Health and Safety Executive concluded load security on the vehicle was "grossly inadequate".

The judge told Le Beau: "The simple fact is you were driving that vehicle when it was dangerously loaded.

'A true sportsman'

Speaking after the sentencing, Harry's mother Maria said: "Harry was our beautiful son with the biggest of smiles and the biggest of hearts."

Harry's family said he was a "true sportsman", playing football for Hastings Athletic Football Club.

They said he always gave 100% in everything he tried.

"Harry could not have crammed any more love, happiness and adventure into his 11 years."

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