‘Top Gear culture’ is lamented by judge in death case
A JUDGE has lamented
culture” as he jailed a young BMW driver for the hit-and-run death of a pensioner.
Ziad Hamed, 23, had already racked up 12 points on his licence before he mowed down Derek Raynor, 81, in his BMW 5 Series.
Doing double the 30mph speed limit, Hamed went through a pedestrian crossing at a red light and struck Mr Raynor in Hammersmith Road, west London, in March last year.
He had only bought the car the night before, and was described by witness as going “very, very fast”.
Afterwards, he drove down quiet back streets and removed the number plates from his car in order to avoid being caught. Hamed handed himself in to police two days later.
He pleaded guilty to causing Mr Raynor’s death by dangerous driving and was jailed for six years and four months at the Old Bailey.
Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC said: “There seems to be at the moment a culture of young males driving powerful cars at excessive speeds.”
He said the BBC motoring programme, hosted by Matt Le Blanc, should come with a warning – and notices on unacceptable driving “should be flashed at the start of every episode of
He branded Hamed “a reckless and dangerous fool caught up in the culture”, and said that was why he killed someone. He told the defendant: “You were just driving at double the speed limit because it felt good to do it.”
Lawyer Patrick Maguire, for the family of Mr Raynor, said: “Hamed showed a flagrant disregard for others by travelling at dangerously high speeds in a residential area. He then jumped a red light, hitting Mr Raynor, before fleeing the scene.”
He added: “Hamed has shown no remorse for taking Mr Raynor’s life.”