FURY AS SCUMBAG’ DEMANDS CRASH COMPO Biker who killed my dad is now suing
A BIKER convicted of causing death by careless driving has stunned his victim’s family by demanding THEY compensate HIM for his injuries.
Luke Guttridge hit dad-offive Harbans Lal, 61, while riding at 49mph in a 30mph zone in December 2010.
But it took Mr Lal’s devastated family eight painful years to get justice after a botched police probe meant Guttridge was not charged until 2017.
Guttridge, 28, initially denied causing death by careless driving, but pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial this month.
A judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court handed him a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
Shameless
Now he is seeking up to £50,000 compo from Mr Lal’s estate in a county court claim.
Mr Lal’s devastated daughter Jasvinder Devi said: “I’m absolutely disgusted. How is it possible that this scumbag is allowed to keep causing our family heartache?”
Retired crane driver Mr Lal was killed as he walked home in Darlaston, Walsall, after drinking two pints in his local pub.
Shameless Guttridge claims Mr Lal was partly to blame by walking out into the road.
He said: “It is sad a life has been lost but my life has been ruined by this man and I’m making a claim against his family. They should pay.”
Guttridge, who had six points on his provisional driving licence at the time of the crash, says he has not been able to get a job since because his right arm was paralysed in the accident.
“I’m in constant pain and suffering,” he said. “I can’t work, I can’t drive. People are being horrible to me in the street, as if I knocked him over on purpose. I haven’t murdered him.”
Guttridge, who lives with his partner, baby daughter and fiveyear-old son in Moxley, admitted that he had won two unrelated personal injury claims in the past. “Unfortunately I’ve been in a few accidents before, none of them my fault, and I’ve got payouts, but not a life changing amount,” he said.
“People are saying
I’m a scam artist.
I’m not.”
Mr Lal’s daughter, of Kingstonupon-thames, West
London, gave up her job as an IT consultant to fight for justice for her dad and has spent £30,000 on fees.
She said of Guttridge: “This guy is despicable. He thinks his life has been ruined? He do doesn’t know what that means. He has destroyed my family’s lives.” Ms Devi, 48, is angry that he walked free from court and plans an appeal.
“Where is the punishment? It’s sending out a message that you can drive carelessly and kill someone and just get away with it.
“My father was let down terribly by the police and now he has been let down again by the judge. I will not give up fighting for him.”
But Guttridge’s solicitor Richard Dykes, of Bikelaywer, said: “Even if you’re found guilty in the criminal courts it t doesn’t mean your civil case will fail. My client has as a young family. His options ons are either a civil claim m or to rely on state benefits ts for life.”
Chief Inspector ctor Yvonne Bruton, of West st Midlands Police professional ional standards department, nt, said evidence against Guttridge uttridge was reviewed “due ue t o an inaccuracy”.
“We regret that hat this matter took so long g to resolve and the distress s caused to Mr Lal’s family,” y,” she said.
“An internal review will be conducted.”