Woman jailed for causing death of motorcyclist

A woman has been jailed for six years for causing the death of a motorcyclist.

Danielle Barrett, 28, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court following a trial after she had denied causing Jeffrey Scott’s death by dangerous driving in July 2023.  

Barrett had been driving south on the B1192 near Coningsby at about 8.25am on July 21, 2023, when she overtook a crop sprayer as she approached a left-hand bend. She crashed head-on into an oncoming Ducati motorbike ridden by 66-year-old Mr Scott, who died at the scene.

Barrett, of Steadman Court, Horncastle, was also banned from driving for a total of seven years and six months and must take an extended re-test before being allowed to drive again.

The court had heard Barrett had crossed into the oncoming carriageway as the motorbike was coming round the bend in the opposite direction, leaving Mr Scott no time to react. He was thrown from the bike, hitting her windscreen and then landing in a ditch at the side of the road sustaining fatal injuries.

Detective Sergeant James Perring, of the Lincolnshire Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision was solely due to the dangerous driving of Barrett when she moved into the opposing carriageway when she did not have a view of the road ahead. 

“The position of her vehicle, as caught by the CCTV, clearly demonstrated that she was commencing an overtaking manoeuvre.

“Whilst we may get frustrated at having to travel behind slower moving vehicles, her impatience led to a dangerous manoeuvre that has cost Mr Scott his life. Just waiting a few seconds more to clear the bend would have provided a view of the road ahead and prevented this unnecessary heartache.”