Jail warning for driver in student death crash

A driver involved in a crash which claimed the life of a student more than three years ago has admitted perverting the course of justice.

College student Adam O'Toole, 18, was killed in Salendine Nook, Huddersfield, on March 6, 2007.

Brett Kingsley, 25, of Cecil Street, Oldham, appeared before a judge at Bradford Crown Court yesterday and admitted the charge which states that having been involved in a fatal road traffic collision he made a false report to the police that criminal damage had been caused to his Rover vehicle.

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Mr O'Toole, who lived in Holmbridge, was studying for a BTec diploma in sports studies at Huddersfield New College in Salendine Nook when he died.

Judge Jonathan Rose queried whether Kingsley could face any other charges in connection with the incident, but prosecutor Vincent O'Malley informed him that they were "statute barred".

A charge of careless driving would have had to have been brought within six months of the offence and the more recently enacted offence of causing death by careless driving was not available in 2007.

It is understood that an expert's assessment of Kingsley's driving meant a charge of causing death by dangerous driving was not appropriate.

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Judge Rose agreed to adjourn Kingsley's case until July 19 for sentence, but he warned him that the offence he had pleaded guilty to was an extremely serious matter and the overwhelming likelihood was that he faced a custodial sentence for it.

Kingsley was granted bail on condition he lived at his parents' home and co-operated with the preparation of a report.

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