Braintree man jailed for nine years after crash which killed motorcyclist
Adrian Bendell failed to stop at the scene and later tried to get his van destroyed at a local scrap yard
Last updated 10th Feb 2022
A Braintree man has been jailed for nine years after hitting and killing a motorcyclist while travelling on the wrong side of the road in August last year.
A court heard 50 year old Adrian Bendell, of Salcott Creek Court, collided with 47 year old Mark Norris as he was riding along Ongar Road in Fyfield at around 8pm on August 10.
Mark died at the scene while his 17 year old pillion passenger suffered a bleed on the brain and injuries to her pelvis. She has permanently lost the use of one arm.
Bendell didn't stop at the scene and his heavily damaged Ford Escort van was later caught on a dashcam fleeing the area.
The same vehicle turned up on August 12 at a scrapyard in Cressing and parts matching the van were later recovered.
Bendell was told to hand himself in and was arrested on August 13.
He was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice, failing to stop at the scene of a collision, and failing to report a collision.
He would eventually admit to all charges at Chelmsford Crown Court. Yesterday he was sentenced to a total of nine years in prison.
On release, he'll be disqualified from driving for seven and a half years and will be required to sit an extended driving test before he can get behind the wheel.
Investigating officer Inspector Mark Fraser, of Essex Police, said:
“Mark Norris was dearly loved by those who knew him and his death has had an massive impact on them.
“Adrian Bendell was reckless and his actions after the collision were callous.
“Rather than stop to try and help Mark and his passenger, he made off, leaving him to die.
“His first thought was how he could cover his tracks and dispose of the vehicle.
“Through the dedication of the team working on this case, he was unable to get away with his crime and has now faces justice."