£250 FINE IMPOSED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 14

£250 FINE IMPOSED

Man Drove Negligently

A fine of £250 would be a severe penalty in the prisoner's circumstances, but the case warranted a severe penalty, said Mr Justice Macarthur in the Supreme Court yesterday when he sentenced Stewart Christie Forrester, aged 66, a retired car salesman. for negligent driving causing bodily injury. His Honour fined Forrester £250, in default six months’ imprisonment, and disqualified him from driving for five years. It was only after careful consideration, and in view of the prisoner's age and exceptionally good record, that he decided not to impose a prison term, his Honour said. Forrester was found guilty by a jury of negligently driving his car in New Brighton road, thereby causing bodily injury to Wenda Jane Greatrex, a nursing sister. For Forrester. Mr W. F. Brown said that it had to be conceded that the offence was one of gross negligence. In considering the actions of the prisoner after the accident. the Court should be informed that he still had to face a charge in the lower Court of failing to report the accident to the police within 24 hours.

Mr C. M. Roper made no submissions for the Crown. The acts and omissions of the prisoner on the night of the accident could be properly described as gross negligence, said his Honour.

“It was a case characterised by extremely bad driving. Moreover, there were no extenuating circumstances such as negligence on the part of the woman cyclist. By your negligence you caused her bodily injury which could, for all I know, result in permanent injury.” his Honour said. There was some evidence that the prisoner had been drinking and this ‘ could account for his driving and behaviour as observed by witnesses after the accident. “By this offence you have blemished a record of which any man might justifiably feel proud.” his Honour said to the prisoner.