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Biker faces prison over death crash

http://www.northamptontoday.co.uk/ViewA ... ID=1722262

Northants Evening Telegraph, 25 August 2006

A SPEEDING motorcyclist who killed an elderly woman as she tried to cross a road has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Jean Woods was killed instantly when she was hit by 37-year-old Ricky Barton.

Barton had denied the charges, but at the end of a two-and-a-half day trial at Northampton Crown Court, a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

The court had earlier heard that Barton had denied driving dangerously or pulling wheelies before hitting the 68-year-old.

As the verdict was read to Judge Richard Bray, both Mrs Woods' daughters broke down in tears.

Judge Bray warned Barton, of Sandringham Close, Wellingborough, that he would be jailed for the offence when he is sentenced at a later date.

He said: "I will grant you bail but a custodial sentence of some length is imminent.

"I understand this is a serious matter but this is not the worse case of its kind.

"There are aggravating features – he was accelerating in such a way to lift the front wheel off the ground and he plainly was not looking sufficiently.

"It was unfortunate the lady was crossing the road at that point."

Mrs Woods was killed as she was crossing Northampton Road, Wellingborough, just after 1pm on September 24.

The prosecution said Barton pulled two wheelies and was speeding at up to 50mph in a 30mph zone.

The court had heard how Barton was riding a high-powered modified 1000cc Suzuki motorbike when he struck Mrs Woods, who was on her way to visit her daughter.

The jury had previously been sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict after three hours' deliberation.

Barton, a father-of-two who works as a site supervisor, was also disqualified from driving.

The case was adjourned for reports to be prepared before sentencing.