Drebbin
03-31-2005, 11:27 AM
The Star (Sheffield)
March 11, 2005
HEADLINE: Crash driver left his victim to die
A TEENAGE hit-and-run driver left his victim to die in a field while he went to find a phone box ... to arrange a lift from a relative instead of calling for an ambulance.
Lee Pearson was today beginning a four-year custody term for causing the death of motorcyclist Oliver Matthews near Kiveton Park just 12 days after his 16th birthday.
Pearson, aged 19, was also given a two-year sentence for the aggravated taking of a vehicle to run concurrently.
The parents of the dead teenager were too distraught to speak after the case at Sheffield Crown Court.
But Wales High School friends of Oliver, who lived at Winny Hill, Harthill, were upset at the length of the sentence.
Prosecutor Paul O'Shea said Pearson stole a Ford Fiesta belonging to a pensioner on November 28 and was spotted in several locations before darting out of Packman Lane at its junction with Thorpe Road.
He knew the fateful stretch of road, recognised as "something of a racetrack" by locals, but failed to see Oliver.
Investigators estimated Pearson's speed at 40-50mph and found a gouge in a road surface littered with remnants of the smashed Peugeot scooter. The Fiesta ended up 70 metres from the impact in a field along with Oliver's body which had been carried on the vehicle.
Pearson, of Narrow Lane, North Anston, had never had lessons or taken a driving test, the court was told, but had previous convictions for taking a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving and failing to stop. He was already banned.
Oliver had experienced motorcycles since the age of nine and was described as "safety conscious". He was saving for a car, but had persuaded his reluctant parents to allow him to buy a scooter to tide him over when he started a college course at Worksop.
Pearson stole the car in the early hours of November 28 and collided with Oliver Matthews the following evening almost totally destroying the scooter which it hit so hard a wheel of the Fiesta almost came off.
Police dogs tracked Pearson and his friend's scene towards Thorpe Salvin. But it wasn't until December 1 when police caught the teenager who had sustained a limp.
Pearson was given four years in custody for causing Oliver's death by dangerous driving.
He admitted that, driving while banned and without insurance, aggravated vehicle taking and leaving the scene of an accident. He was further banned from driving for seven years.
March 11, 2005
HEADLINE: Crash driver left his victim to die
A TEENAGE hit-and-run driver left his victim to die in a field while he went to find a phone box ... to arrange a lift from a relative instead of calling for an ambulance.
Lee Pearson was today beginning a four-year custody term for causing the death of motorcyclist Oliver Matthews near Kiveton Park just 12 days after his 16th birthday.
Pearson, aged 19, was also given a two-year sentence for the aggravated taking of a vehicle to run concurrently.
The parents of the dead teenager were too distraught to speak after the case at Sheffield Crown Court.
But Wales High School friends of Oliver, who lived at Winny Hill, Harthill, were upset at the length of the sentence.
Prosecutor Paul O'Shea said Pearson stole a Ford Fiesta belonging to a pensioner on November 28 and was spotted in several locations before darting out of Packman Lane at its junction with Thorpe Road.
He knew the fateful stretch of road, recognised as "something of a racetrack" by locals, but failed to see Oliver.
Investigators estimated Pearson's speed at 40-50mph and found a gouge in a road surface littered with remnants of the smashed Peugeot scooter. The Fiesta ended up 70 metres from the impact in a field along with Oliver's body which had been carried on the vehicle.
Pearson, of Narrow Lane, North Anston, had never had lessons or taken a driving test, the court was told, but had previous convictions for taking a vehicle without consent, dangerous driving and failing to stop. He was already banned.
Oliver had experienced motorcycles since the age of nine and was described as "safety conscious". He was saving for a car, but had persuaded his reluctant parents to allow him to buy a scooter to tide him over when he started a college course at Worksop.
Pearson stole the car in the early hours of November 28 and collided with Oliver Matthews the following evening almost totally destroying the scooter which it hit so hard a wheel of the Fiesta almost came off.
Police dogs tracked Pearson and his friend's scene towards Thorpe Salvin. But it wasn't until December 1 when police caught the teenager who had sustained a limp.
Pearson was given four years in custody for causing Oliver's death by dangerous driving.
He admitted that, driving while banned and without insurance, aggravated vehicle taking and leaving the scene of an accident. He was further banned from driving for seven years.