Land Rover driver who fled after killing scooter rider on Yorkshire road is jailed

Builder Scott Cooney, 48, will now spent eight years in prison for the death of Mark Jenkins, 58, in Barnsley last year.

Cooney’s Land Rover hit Mr Jenkins’ Piaggio scooter on Mortimer Road in Cubley on June 2, 2021. The victim was thrown from the scooter and suffered catastrophic injuries, but Cooney, from Stocksbridge, drove off.

Mr Jenkins spent several days in hospital before his death on June 8. Meanwhile Cooney had refused to give a breath sample to police.

PC Paula Townsend from South Yorkshire Police said: “Firstly I want to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to Mr Jenkins’ family, who ask that their privacy be respected as they come to terms with the conclusion of legal proceedings and this investigation.

“We received crucial information from witnesses to the collision that allowed us to identify the vehicle involved, which other motorists reported was driving at considerable speed and was seen several times to cross over the white lines onto the opposite carriageway, forcing other motorists to take evasive action.

“Piecing together the information from eyewitnesses and the description of the vehicle led us to Cooney’s address, where he was arrested by one of our officers who reported that he seemed unsteady on his feet and slurring his words.

“Cooney refused to provide a specimen of breath so that we could determine whether he was over the limit, but other evidence gathered showed that he had been purchasing quantities of alcohol at various locations across Sheffield throughout the day prior to the collision.

“No sentence passed will ever give Mr Jenkins’ family their loved one back, but I hope they are able to find some peace knowing that the individual responsible is now behind bars.”

Cooney, formerly of Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison and disqualified from driving for 11 years.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen and failing to stop at the scene of a collision at a previous hearing.