Cannabis fuelled driver who killed dad-of-three in crash is sent to young offender's institution

A motorist who killed a biker while under the influence of cannabis has been sentenced to three years and four months in a young offender's institution.
Shaun MairShaun Mair
Shaun Mair

Dad-of-three Shaun Mair, 46, from Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, died from multiple injuries after college student Daanyaal Naser's Vauxhall Astra collided with his bike at the junction of Amy Johnson Way and Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool.

He had 6.3mg - more than three times the legal limit - of cannabis in his system at the time of the accident at 4.20pm on July 17 last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Preston Crown Court was told Naser, who had travelled with three friends from Bolton for an afternoon out, mistakenly drove into the junction when a green filter traffic light came on for traffic in the lane on his left.

The sceneThe scene
The scene

Prosecuting Mercedeh Jabbari said Mr Mair, who was returning from a visit to see his landlord, was driving into the junction from Amy Johnson Way on his orange Keeway bike, which collided with the vehicle.

He suffered a fractured pelvis, fractured ribs and fractured femur.

Witnesses stopped and tried to help the biker, who had come to rest with the bike still between his legs and was wearing no protective leather gear

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Naser, 19, of The Sheddings, Bolton, pulled into a nearby bus stop.

The court heard Mr Mair did not appear to have a pulse and was given chest compressions until paramedics arrived.

He was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but was tragically pronounced dead at 5.30pm.

In a victim impact statement his brother Darren Mair spoke of the devastating impact of his death, which came shortly after other family bereavements, including their father passing away just four weeks earlier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In a police interview Naser, who has admitted causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs, admitted smoking cannabis at 10am that day, and said he had left Bolton at 3.30pm.

He said the car to his left started to move and he thought it was his turn to go. The next thing he recalled was his airbag going off.

Defending, Colin Buttle said the teenager, who has no previous convictions, was genuinely remorseful and was "affected by the enormity of what had taken place".

He argued it was "momentary inattention", but the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Mark Brown, who was shown footage from another car's dashcam, disagreed, saying Naser appeared to have continued driving across the large junction when the lights were still red.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Judge Brown told Naser he made a "serious and fatal mistake."

He added: "Human life can never be restored and never can it be measured by any sentence of the court.

"It can't be emphasized too much that the court has huge sympathy for his brother and family.

"You're clearly remorseful for what happened and I accept it was a huge mistake on your part.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It is undoubtedly also a tragedy to have somebody such as yourself in this dock, facing sentencing on such a grave charge.

"This case is yet another example of poor driving by a relatively young person that has had fatal and tragic consequences.

"You took the decision to drive having taken drugs, and although you may have been influenced by your friends it cannot be an excuse for your conduct."

He was banned for five years and must do an extended retest.

Mr Mair's family was too distressed to speak after the case.