Death crash biker's appeal rejected
Teenage biker involved in death-of-five gets appeal turned down
A TEENAGE biker whose dangerous riding caused the deaths of five people has failed to reduce his six-and-a-half year sentence in an Appeal Court.
Joshua Knights, 18, of Chesterfield Road, Shuttlewood, near Chesterfield, was jailed and banned from driving for ten years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving at Derby Crown Court. Knights was involved in a race with a car in Chesterfield Road, when the Ford Sierra collided with another car carrying a young family on September 22, 2007.
After hearing his appeal, the Criminal Appeal Court in London rejected his case against the sentence.
Knights was involved in a high-speed race with a Ford Sierra in Chesterfield Road, but the contest turned into tragedy when the Sierra collided with a car carrying a young family on September 22, 2007.
A boy aged seven and his four-year-old brother died when their mother's car collided with the Sierra near a railway bridge.
The driver of the Sierra was also killed, along with his brother and a friend.
Following the crash, Knights carefully negotiated his way through the carnage and carried on to a nearby village where he was seen performing wheelies and talked to people about what had happened.
Rejecting the appeal as having "no merit", Mr Justice Sweeney said all races had to involve two participants and that the loser had to bear responsibility, even if not physically involved in the ultimate consequences."
The judges reduced Knights' driving ban from ten to six years, after which he will have to take an extended test before getting a licence.
Discuss this story
Why, if the charge has been proven, should anyone, let alone this little toerag, be allowed to ever drive or ride again. Should be a life ban after a lengthy prison term. I also believe that the offender should have to do years of community service after the prison sentence is over. Basically, he/she should forever be in debt to, firstly the family of the victims, and then to society at large. I truly hope that this cnut feels remorse even if he has the front not to show it.
Posted: 25/10/2008 19:34
There are situatiions where accidents may happen if you take your eye off the road for a second, with traggic results, but his racing and its consequences should result in a life time ban. Not for revenge , but to keep him off the road and to warn others.
Posted: 25/10/2008 19:53
"Following the crash, Knights carefully negotiated his way through the carnage and carried on to a nearby village where he was seen performing wheelies and talked to people about what had happened." this is the bit i find astounding. if it were my wife and kids in the other car, he'd be asking the judge for life, as i'd be waiting at the prison gates for his release.
Posted: 26/10/2008 07:47
And before you all start with the jokes ! no that lad is not me !!
Posted: 26/10/2008 10:52
Grasshopper we all recognise and know you as a bit of a wanker but a killer we have never believed of you! However, if there were any thoughts it was you I am sure we could raise a posse and find you to save the family the bother! Bless.what have you been up to? Met any MILFs lately????
Posted: 26/10/2008 10:57
Grasshopper we all recognise and know you as a bit of a wanker but a killer we have never believed of you! However, if there were any thoughts it was you I am sure we could raise a posse and find you to save the family the bother! Bless.what have you been up to? Met any MILFs lately????
well sometimes i go out by myself and i look across the water ...
then i go to the pub and find myself a MILF .. like you .. and have her for my dinner !! why wont you come on over ? come on over valerie ? . and also .. why do people look at me as a bit of a wanker !! i'm a good lad me !!
Posted: 26/10/2008 11:02
Just your age Grasshopper, understand that was a favourite pastime for many blokes at that age! I am flattered that you think of me as a milf...fortunately no pix for you to be frightened of! And who told you you were "good"?
Posted: 26/10/2008 11:54
well no one told me im good  i a m also i fink u shud leave the old men ... and come show a young gun like myself how things work .  because you are a buitifull women
Posted: 26/10/2008 12:00
Thanks young un............................. much too mature for you though methinks 
Posted: 26/10/2008 12:01
Grasshopper, reported- blatant ageism 
Posted: 26/10/2008 12:55
You're not kidding Val, I've just watched Rossi blitz the field like he'd hidden a turbo under his fairing. Love or loath him, he's just unbelievable. I'd swap body parts for half his talent... Flash git.
Posted: 26/10/2008 13:24
The devil's advocate here.... This lad never crashed into anyone, he was not physically involved in the accident. He did not stop as he should have done. He rode on & bragged about it all, both immature & stupid. But no one ever did that at 18....? He obviously admitted his part in it all at a later time/date. He could have denied it all (maybe he did at first). He has been made to pay for another's tragic errors. Nobody on a bike ever got involved in a race with a car, oh no never..... Nobody on a bike (or driving a car) ever got the red mist & started racing another road user. oh no, never.... 6 years? out in 4? Do me a favour, at 18 that is like a life sentence. HE DIDN'T KILL ANYONE, the car driver did. It was a tragic accident, if he had made the mistake he'd probably be dead too. He has admitted his part in it all & been made to pay a heavy price.
Posted: 28/10/2008 11:45
The devil's advocate here.... This lad never crashed into anyone, he was not physically involved in the accident. He did not stop as he should have done. He rode on & bragged about it all, both immature & stupid. But no one ever did that at 18....? He obviously admitted his part in it all at a later time/date. He could have denied it all (maybe he did at first). He has been made to pay for another's tragic errors. Nobody on a bike ever got involved in a race with a car, oh no never..... Nobody on a bike (or driving a car) ever got the red mist & started racing another road user. oh no, never.... 6 years? out in 4? Do me a favour, at 18 that is like a life sentence. HE DIDN'T KILL ANYONE, the car driver did. It was a tragic accident, if he had made the mistake he'd probably be dead too. He has admitted his part in it all & been made to pay a heavy price.
He has not been made to pay for another's tragic errors. He has been made to pay, lightly or otherwise, for his. The error was getting into the high speed race with the car in the first place.
Whether nobody else has ever done so, or got the 'red mist' (whatever that may be) is frankly irelevant. 'I'm not the only one who does it' is not, as far as I am aware, a defence in law in a case like this. Maybe I am wrong - perhaps if any of our learned friends are on this site they can advise. HE DID KILL PEOPLE by his actions. The De'il needs a different advocate.
Posted: 28/10/2008 12:04
The crash location at Shuttlewood is a massive tabletop jump over a bridge... ...was a 60, now a 40 from this crash... I have been airborne at 80+ over it and its feels like the TT... It is absolutely awesome.... The sierras suspension probably bottomed and the driver lost control.. The chance of a car going the other way at exactly that point is tragic... as it is a fairly quiet road, I don't think we know enough detail about the actual accident to judge the 'racing'.... ....as for riding off when there is obviously multiple trauma... he has got what he deserves and is lucky with just that....
Posted: 28/10/2008 12:33
"Following the crash, Knights carefully negotiated his way through the carnage and carried on to a nearby village where he was seen performing wheelies and talked to people about what had happened". That statement alone deserves the turd to be locked up - had he stopped then perhaps there may have been survivors - F**k him!
Posted: 28/10/2008 14:21
Can you believe this kid? Calmly rides off after five people die, then tries to get off the charge? This little charmer will be out and driving again less than seven years from now. I don't know whether to carry on ranting or just cry. Maybe a few years to think it over might change his attitude? I'm not betting on it... well Flo, this kid lives up the road from me, and the one other was a lass my brother went to school with... ..if i see the little shit pop a wheelie past me i'll makesure he tastes nothing but tarmac for a fixed amount of time.
Posted: 28/10/2008 21:08
Seems like the majority of you are out to hang this young man without the facts after reading many of your comments it seems to me that a lot you are very quick to condemn without the full facts. After reading this article I am neither going to acquit or condemn. has nobody noticed the mention or lack of it as to the car he was racing I.e the other guilty party to this tragic accident, or were they never caught or are they dead ? so therefore the police in all there integrity and just reasoning need someone to blame the family/ies who suffered loss will want a conviction of somebody oh look there's a biker that didn't die we'll blame him bikes are dangerous all riders are idiots or is that cynical! After all the bike did not actually hit the car all he was guilty of at that point as far as I can see is speeding and leaving the scene of an accident. A few question How many times have any of you been travelling on your bikes at well over the speed limit? How many times have any of you dropped it down a gear and cleared off from some muppet boy racer trying his luck in his souped up saxo? How many near misses have you ever had in the past because you were not concentrating or doing somthing you should not have been doing? how many times have any of you said look at that t@@t only to do somthing after or having done somthing similar in the past of the same nature. so before you open the trapdoor take a closer look at yourselves it may be a little closer linked to this boy than you would like to admit (see questions above). yes in the eyes of the law he was in the wrong and his attitude was a little childish and cold but should he take all the blame for what happened ?
So that excuses him riding away and later bragging about the events does it? Grow up and smell the roses. I don't deny having done stupid and reckless things in the past, and will not rule out the same in the future. However, were something serious to happen then I would take responsibility. That's part of being a mature adult, and is part of the moral contract you agree to when you accept that slip of paper which allows you to drive/ride on the Queens Highway. The very least this person should do is accept the punishment like a man and apologise for his actions. If you disagree with this then you are no better than him.
Posted: 28/10/2008 21:24
Seems like the majority of you are out to hang this young man without the facts after reading many of your comments it seems to me that a lot you are very quick to condemn without the full facts. After reading this article I am neither going to acquit or condemn. has nobody noticed the mention or lack of it as to the car he was racing I.e the other guilty party to this tragic accident, or were they never caught or are they dead ? so therefore the police in all there integrity and just reasoning need someone to blame the family/ies who suffered loss will want a conviction of somebody oh look there's a biker that didn't die we'll blame him bikes are dangerous all riders are idiots or is that cynical! After all the bike did not actually hit the car all he was guilty of at that point as far as I can see is speeding and leaving the scene of an accident. A few question How many times have any of you been travelling on your bikes at well over the speed limit? How many times have any of you dropped it down a gear and cleared off from some muppet boy racer trying his luck in his souped up saxo? How many near misses have you ever had in the past because you were not concentrating or doing somthing you should not have been doing? how many times have any of you said look at that t@@t only to do somthing after or having done somthing similar in the past of the same nature. so before you open the trapdoor take a closer look at yourselves it may be a little closer linked to this boy than you would like to admit (see questions above). yes in the eyes of the law he was in the wrong and his attitude was a little childish and cold but should he take all the blame for what happened ?
So that excuses him riding away and later bragging about the events does it? Grow up and smell the roses. I don't deny having done stupid and reckless things in the past, and will not rule out the same in the future. However, were something serious to happen then I would take responsibility. That's part of being a mature adult, and is part of the moral contract you agree to when you accept that slip of paper which allows you to drive/ride on the Queens Highway. The very least this person should do is accept the punishment like a man and apologise for his actions. If you disagree with this then you are no better than him.
Ditto - the twat had a big enough "EGO" to either instigate a race or at least take part, it went tits up and the little prick then had the nerve to continue on with his antics.
Ban the shit for life.
Posted: 28/10/2008 22:45
Seems like the majority of you are out to hang this young man without the facts after reading many of your comments it seems to me that a lot you are very quick to condemn without the full facts. After reading this article I am neither going to acquit or condemn. has nobody noticed the mention or lack of it as to the car he was racing I.e the other guilty party to this tragic accident, or were they never caught or are they dead ? so therefore the police in all there integrity and just reasoning need someone to blame the family/ies who suffered loss will want a conviction of somebody oh look there's a biker that didn't die we'll blame him bikes are dangerous all riders are idiots or is that cynical! After all the bike did not actually hit the car all he was guilty of at that point as far as I can see is speeding and leaving the scene of an accident. A few question How many times have any of you been travelling on your bikes at well over the speed limit? How many times have any of you dropped it down a gear and cleared off from some muppet boy racer trying his luck in his souped up saxo? How many near misses have you ever had in the past because you were not concentrating or doing somthing you should not have been doing? how many times have any of you said look at that t@@t only to do somthing after or having done somthing similar in the past of the same nature. so before you open the trapdoor take a closer look at yourselves it may be a little closer linked to this boy than you would like to admit (see questions above). yes in the eyes of the law he was in the wrong and his attitude was a little childish and cold but should he take all the blame for what happened ?
and breathe
Posted: 28/10/2008 22:47
Seems like the majority of you are out to hang this young man without the facts after reading many of your comments it seems to me that a lot you are very quick to condemn without the full facts. After reading this article I am neither going to acquit or condemn. has nobody noticed the mention or lack of it as to the car he was racing I.e the other guilty party to this tragic accident, or were they never caught or are they dead ? so therefore the police in all there integrity and just reasoning need someone to blame the family/ies who suffered loss will want a conviction of somebody oh look there's a biker that didn't die we'll blame him bikes are dangerous all riders are idiots or is that cynical! After all the bike did not actually hit the car all he was guilty of at that point as far as I can see is speeding and leaving the scene of an accident. A few question How many times have any of you been travelling on your bikes at well over the speed limit? How many times have any of you dropped it down a gear and cleared off from some muppet boy racer trying his luck in his souped up saxo? How many near misses have you ever had in the past because you were not concentrating or doing somthing you should not have been doing? how many times have any of you said look at that t@@t only to do somthing after or having done somthing similar in the past of the same nature. so before you open the trapdoor take a closer look at yourselves it may be a little closer linked to this boy than you would like to admit (see questions above). yes in the eyes of the law he was in the wrong and his attitude was a little childish and cold but should he take all the blame for what happened ?
The accident happened, there is nothing that can undo that. But kebab man I think you haven't grasped why people are judging. He not only rode through the wreckage but then went off popped wheelies and bragged about what had hapened. As an earlier post said we have all probably done and may well do again stupid things but I'm pretty sure that most of us would be remorseful shoud it ever go 'tragically' wrong. This lowlife has shown none, I personally think he is beyond contempt trying to get his sentence reduced!! His attitude wasn't childish, it was plain wrong, disrespectful and very offensive!!
Posted: 28/10/2008 23:00
I don't think racing is the problem here but rather leaving people to die.... For all we know - Had he stopped to give assistance, some of the 4 victims may all still be alive!! In my opinion he has got off very lightly.....
Posted: 29/10/2008 08:17
A boy aged seven and his four-year-old brother died when their mother's car collided with the Sierra near a railway bridge. The driver of the Sierra was also killed, along with his brother and a friend. I don't have Children, but I can guess what the Mother's opinion would be on the matter...........
Posted: 29/10/2008 09:12
Again with the majority of you things like this happen and the hypocrites among will not stop and think before you go and do these things ( I am no angel) yet you will be quick to judge other peoples actions. As I say regardless of your thoughts on this his bike did not crash and cause this accident the car he was racing did the fact that the other cars occupants are dead does not excuse them he was just a factor in this, all of us would probably like to think that we would behave and act responsibly in a similar situation but until it happens you can never tell how you would react despite all his bravado he will have to live with the fact that he left the scene and could have saved lives for the rest of his life much harsher than any sentence. As for excusing his actions I did not say that falcorob as you say yourself you have done stupid and reckless things in the past this kid is probably about the same age as when you were doing these things racing wheelies etc it's just the fact that you got away with it. You mention morality as pointed out previously his crimes were dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident no matter how wrong you think he was for doing this it does not make it any worse in the eyes of the law it is your veiw. I also being mature and not needing to grow up think he was wrong in his actions but it is not my right to judge him except in my own personal opinion which of course we are all entitled to I am not falling out with people I am just giving my own opinion of what I see so wether falcorob or anybody disagrees to try and make it personal by saying I am no better than him because I disagree or have a difference of opinion with certain things could also be construed as morally wrong in a lot of peoples eyes and is certainly not within in the context of maturity.
Posted: 29/10/2008 12:22
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