Man jailed for 4 years over toddler minibike death
'It is the crass stupidity of the defendant which is the graveness of the offence' says judge
THE MALE RIDER of a minimoto bike that collided with a pick-up truck, killing his three-year-old stepdaughter while she rode on the petrol tank, has been jailed for four years.
George Franklin, 22, put Abbie Perrin on the tank with nowhere to put her feet as they rode along the pavement about 100 yards from where they lived.
A pick-up truck pulled out from a garage access road into the path of the 110cc Honda and the two collided.
Abbie was hurled into the road and later died from her injuries.
Jailing him for four years at Lincoln Crown Court, Judge Michael Heath said: "It is the crass stupidity of the defendant which is the graveness of the offence. It was the height of madness to do what he did."
Inspector Andy McManus, of Lincolnshire Police, who investigated the case, said: "People need to know machines like this are not toys.
"Although they are small, they are motorcycles. They need to be licensed and taxed - and if they have two wheels the riders need helmets."
Franklin was also banned from driving for four years.
Discuss this story
As a father of a 4 year old myself i can only imagine the greif he is going through but he will live the rest of his life knowing he killed his daughter by his own stupid actions, was the sentence harsh? possibly but we would have been screaming for blood if it had been someone else other than the father.
He was in fact the stepfather. Got what he deserved for risking and losing, a completely innocent young life.
Screwd.
Posted: 15/08/2008 at 21:30
Should have been given longer. Of course he didnt mean to harm the girl, no one goes out with the intentions of having a collision and killing someone, so why lock anyone up? People who cause accidents whilst using their mobile, people who drink drive, people who intentionally speed in built up areas. NONE of them intend to harm anyone, but it happens. He has taken a young kids life, who had totally put her life and trust in his hands. He was driving a machine, on a public foot path, also putting other people at risk too. It may not have been a car that pulled out in front of him, but another kid playing. I have to deal with these people, and the after math, upset and distress it causes the family, the community, and even me and other police officers. Imagine if it was your kid that ran out of the drive into this bike driven by him on the path. Would you still think 'he didnt mean to harm anyone'?
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 00:59
definitely stepfather syndrome then-if it was his own kid he would have given a fuck--don't spose he was on the dole living on a council estate with a woman who was claiming single parent benefit was he?
My partner has a 4 year old son, we've been together for a couple of years now and I treat him as I would my own offspring.
Are you accusing me of having this 'stepfather syndrome' or is it just some jolly banter you spout on the internet for shits and giggles? And as for the benfits remark...for fucks sake.
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 08:10
oh dear dear dear! wait 'til you leave it's mother and then see if you still treat it like it's your own
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 08:37
just his lack of common sense ended up with a little girl dead, which I'm sure will play on his mind for a long long time.
Now he's got four years (but probably less than 2 though) to learn common sense and social responsibilities.
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 11:34
Did the knob jockey reversing out of the driveway get anything?
Who knows?
It would have been investigated thoroughly though. How many here have a drive that they reverse off? He could have took all the precautions in the world, and still not avoided a collision. People just dont expect a motorbike to be travelling along the footpath. At the most he would have been reported for driving without due care.
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 12:17
I can tell you that when things like this happen they are investigated thoroughly, nothing is left unturned, when my wife had that drunk teenager jump from a barrier on top of the car, even though my wife was pregnant she was still breathalised, our car was impounded for over 2 months, whilst they went over it. She was questioned at the time and after, also had to produce at the local nick, The investigating officer was pretty good, however what bothered me was the fact that even though my wife done nothing wrong, and he not only endangered my wife's life, my daughter life destroyed his own, his family and all our Christmas plans we walked away feeling let down and having to pick the tab up for this tossers mistake, he may have payed a price but we payed mentally, and I lost all my no claims bonuses and had to pay the excess, my wife delivered our son in the following may, and with the shock of the accident instead of being a happy time for us it split us up for 6 weeks. My wife to this day doesn't like talking about what happened, I feel sorry for his families loss, but fuck him I dont feel sorry for him. I always wish it was me who had been in the car at the time, I can honestly say I would have called him a tosser as he lay there losing his brain fluid out of his head laughed and sat in the car till the police arrived.
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 12:29
I can tell you that when things like this happen they are investigated thoroughly, nothing is left unturned, when my wife had that drunk teenager jump from a barrier on top of the car, even though my wife was pregnant she was still breathalised, our car was impounded for over 2 months, whilst they went over it. She was questioned at the time and after, also had to produce at the local nick, The investigating officer was pretty good, however what bothered me was the fact that even though my wife done nothing wrong, and he not only endangered my wife's life, my daughter life destroyed his own, his family and all our Christmas plans we walked away feeling let down and having to pick the tab up for this tossers mistake, he may have payed a price but we payed mentally, and I lost all my no claims bonuses and had to pay the excess, my wife delivered our son in the following may, and with the shock of the accident instead of being a happy time for us it split us up for 6 weeks. My wife to this day doesn't like talking about what happened, I feel sorry for his families loss, but fuck him I dont feel sorry for him. I always wish it was me who had been in the car at the time, I can honestly say I would have called him a tosser as he lay there losing his brain fluid out of his head laughed and sat in the car till the police arrived.
I think that there is a failing in the system. there are loads of things in place from the police for the deceased (cant call him a victim in your case) and their family, including a family liaison officer, but nothing for the person who is driving the vehicle that has killed the person.
I have been to a few fatal accidents, including a motorcyclists death, and child that was knocked down by a young decent lad after the kid stepped out infront of him. In fact i am investigating 2 at this very moment. The family get a liaison officer straight away, and even I am offered wellfare counceling. The driver is just told to go and see their doctor if they feel bad. No one can begin to know the feelings of a driver who has killed someone, despite who was at fault. Everyone feels sorry for the deceased and the loss the family has had, but not many even consider the driver and how they must feel. Go easy on your good lady.
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 12:42
As I said the liaison officer was pretty good, she let us know of any changes and how the case was going, she dealt with it very well and was more than understanding with my wife. What bothered me was the lack of understanding by the rest of the law and the insurance company. I actually went through the procedure of seeing if we could get the cost back to pay the insurance company and get our excess money back, they solicitor basically told us yes the Judge would say that it wasn't our fault, but the lad payed for his mistake. The insurance company, didn't want to help recounting the cost even though they told us the case was closed and we were not at fault, but because we had to because we had children claimed on our insurance to get OUR car fixed from the damage HE had caused when HE fell on ontop of our car, we would lose our no claims untill WE took him to court and got the money back. It seemed more like he was being looked after and cared for when US the real victims could go whistle dixy as we had only lost some money and it only cost my wife some emotional issues, even though it was HE who had chosen to get drunk and maybe even take drugs. then show off to some other teenagers and jump over the barrier, onto the top of our car.
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 13:09
I think the guy definitely got what he deserved. Play hard, but play safe. He was just being foolish and took unnecessary risk. Whether your child or another person's, or even another adult, taking risks the way he did was unacceptable.
Posted: 16/08/2008 at 18:35
Worse thing is, hes not the only one to do it. Every estate you go on in Linc, theres some knob running around with kids piled onto a minimoto or quad. Im suprised there havent been more incidents. He'll be out in two yrs..........is that long enough for killing someone?
Posted: 17/08/2008 at 09:01
Did the knob jockey reversing out of the driveway get anything?
why should he be punished for a dickhead on a pit bike riding on the path with i little girl on the fuel tank he should have got longer
the bloke on the car was not reversing on to the but into a car park on the side of the road there's a double footpath with about 20 meters of grass before the road
Posted: 17/08/2008 at 11:03
oh dear dear dear! wait 'til you leave it's mother and then see if you still treat it like it's your own
Jesus..."it's" mother? Have some respect eh? I stated that my parter had a son. I have no intention of leaving her.
What the hell is your problem, did your parents split up when you were a kid? Did your stepdad make you touch him in his special place?!
Posted: 17/08/2008 at 13:57
he's a twat got wat he deserved.. feel sorry for the mother..she lost her daughter ....he lost his his shags daughter.... wat pisses me of aswell is the fact of the police seemin more pissed of that these bikes aint taxed sirilmai...if your missus met someone else, i'm sure youd be more gutted losing her than her children keep it real
Posted: 19/08/2008 at 11:54
Some interesting posts here. Do we not think that things should be put into perspective though. Whether or not you agree with the 4 year sentance the guy got it was still an accident. You have to wonder at the law when people who set out to deliberately commit serious crime only get community or suspended sentances. a fairly recent example is http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7457685.stm
Posted: 19/08/2008 at 18:18
Some interesting posts here. Do we not think that things should be put into perspective though. Whether or not you agree with the 4 year sentance the guy got it was still an accident. You have to wonder at the law when people who set out to deliberately commit serious crime only get community or suspended sentances. a fairly recent example is http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7457685.stm
I agree.
Posted: 19/08/2008 at 20:21
wat pisses me of aswell is the fact of the police seemin more pissed of that these bikes aint taxed
Only because this is one of the simplest rules to enforce, and what people understand. There are a whole host of other rules and regs the bike won't comply with, and lots of other laws being broken whilst riding a motorised vehicle on the pavement with a 3 year old sat astride the petrol tank.
Posted: 19/08/2008 at 21:35
"So he was jailed for 4 years (Deserves every day), and disqualified for 4 years ???? So when he gets out - He can drive !!!!!! " No used to be that way but now the ban starts when his sentence finishes. I recall being in juvenile court many years ago (working not a defendant)! when a 14 year old got done amongst other things for no licence ('cos he wasn't old enough to have one). He got a two year ban, so in effect it was only going to be a couple a of months as he would be 16 and 2 months when it ended. A copper did try to explain that next time they nicked him (such certainty)! it would be "riding while disqualified" rather than "riding without a licence" which would result in a bigger penalty. I think that has also changed and a ban comes into force only when you are old enough to legally hold a licence.
Posted: 19/08/2008 at 22:31
he's a twat got wat he deserved.. feel sorry for the mother..she lost her daughter ....he lost his his shags daughter.... wat pisses me of aswell is the fact of the police seemin more pissed of that these bikes aint taxed sirilmai...if your missus met someone else, i'm sure youd be more gutted losing her than her children keep it real
Police are not more pissed about vehicles not being taxed, however every offence is looked at in theses cases, and helps to convict him or link various offences to him. Death by dangerous, or without due care is bad in itself, but adding every other little offence makes him that much worse. You also find that if a vehicle isnt taxed, then it may not have insurance or test, as both of these are needed to get your tax. As for your other point, i was with a gilr for 4 years, and she had a son. I knew him from the age of 5 til 9 years old, and we were like best friends and went everywhere together. When me and her split up (i kicked her out for being a psycho) i was far more gutted about losing him than her. So he was jailed for 4 years (Deserves every day), and disqualified for 4 years ???? So when he gets out - He can drive !!!!!! Should have been disqualified for life. Obviously has no road sense or even any common sense. So he should never be allowed on the road again. Best thing for him, Public Transport or Shankses Pony. Yes, he can drive. But what are the chances of him doing it legally? Imagine... Insurance co "do you have any accidents, claims or convictions?", Him "yes, i killed a kid". I'm sure most wouldnt touch him. Some interesting posts here. Do we not think that things should be put into perspective though. Whether or not you agree with the 4 year sentance the guy got it was still an accident. You have to wonder at the law when people who set out to deliberately commit serious crime only get community or suspended sentances. a fairly recent example is http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7457685.stm
I agree. If you get caught doing some kind of frued you can get 6 years (the Darwin canoist anyone?), kill someone (accidently, using a vehicle), break into someones house or rob someone and get 4 years at the most. Doesnt make sense to me either.
Posted: 19/08/2008 at 23:05
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