You could not make it up

[Crimson Dynamo]

A career criminal who killed a policeman in a hit-and-run then boasted, 'one down, 500 to go' was labelled 'low-life scum' by his victim's family today.
Stephen Benson, 25, had been asked to destroy the car for an insurance scam but mowed down off-duty officer Mike Silcock hours after taking the BMW M3, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Today, Benson, from Stockport, was jailed for four years and two months after admitting causing death by careless driving on March 6, 2009, and conspiracy to commit fraud. He was also disqualified from driving for five years.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350457/Career-criminal-Stephen-Benson-killed-duty-policeman-hit-run-smash.html#ixzz1C8V2C9bO

[BB_Eye]

For some reason or other, the British legal system doesn't regard unrepentant thugs as deserving of punishment and feel more inclined to blame the victims most of the time. The same goes for rapists, who routinely get let off scot free, much less getting the sentence they deserve.

[Shaun]

The fact Tommy Sheridan got 3 years for lying in comparison to this is rather sad.

[MTVN]

According to the article death by careless driving carries a maximum sentance of 5 years

Death by dangerous driving carries a maximum sentance of 14 years

Is the difference between the two so great? Surely if you're driving carelessly, you are being dangerous

[Claymores]

The fact Tommy Sheridan got 3 years for lying in comparison to this is rather sad.

Excellent point. A bloke who killed 3 pedestrians just outside where I live by crahing his Subaru Impeza into them while drunk has got 3 years and a 5 year driving ban.

WTF? should have been so much more.

JACK TWEED - nuff said

[arista]

Excellent point. A bloke who killed 3 pedestrians just outside where I live by crahing his Subaru Impeza into them while drunk has got 3 years and a 5 year driving ban.

WTF? should have been so much more.

JACK TWEED - nuff said



Yes maybe they will review it

[Claymores]

Yes maybe they will review it

The alternative way of thinking of it is to hope he gets screwed royally up the ass multiple times every day for 3 years :mad:

[Shasown]

According to the article death by careless driving carries a maximum sentance of 5 years

Death by dangerous driving carries a maximum sentance of 14 years

Is the difference between the two so great? Surely if you're driving carelessly, you are being dangerous

In laymans terms:

Careless driving is the standard of driving which falls below the expected standard of a competent driver.

Dangerous driving is the standard of driving which falls FAR below the expected standard of a competent driver.


The police would probably charge with the more serious charge of dangerous, depending on the evidence at the time they charge the person.

The CPS would follow through on that charge or reduce/increase it depending on the evidence the police sent them and any follow up evidence obtained

But in the end it would the Jury or Magistrate/Sheriff decided as to how far below the standard the person accused fell.