Driver, 69, who mowed down and killed an elderly pedestrian after failing to hit the brakes of his 'cherished' Audi ‘in case another car shunted him’ is spared prison

  • Navnit Tailor had Anthony Locke in his view for five seconds as he crossed road
  • Tailor decided to try and swerve around Mr Locke, 72, rather than apply brakes
  • The 69-year-old avoided jail and has been banned from the roads for two years

Navnit Tailor, 69 (pictured leaving Bolton Crown Court), was spared jail after admitting causing death by careless driving

Navnit Tailor, 69 (pictured leaving Bolton Crown Court), was spared jail after admitting causing death by careless driving 

A driver who ploughed into an elderly pedestrian because he did not want to hit the brakes on his prized sports car has been spared a prison sentence.   

Navnit Tailor, 69, had 72-year old Anthony Locke in his view for up to five seconds when he stepped into a dual carriageway ahead of him. 

Mr Locke had been crossing the road in Bolton on October 6, 2017 at 7.15pm to catch a bus home after visiting his brother when he was killed.

Tailor 'was worried' that he applied the brakes on his Audi A4 another car would hit him, so attempted to veer into the outside lane to swerve around Mr Locke, the court heard.

As he did so Tailor was blocked by a VW Passat overtaking him and forced to stay in the same lane, subsequently hitting Mr Locke at up to 35mph.

Mr Locke, a great-grandfather from Bolton, Greater Manchester, suffered fatal head injuries in the collision and died later in hospital. 

Tailor admitted causing death by careless driving but told the court he 'had not consciously set out to prioritise the preservation of his own car over the safety of Mr Locke.'

He avoided jail and was instead ordered to complete 120 hours unpaid work, and banned from driving for two years.  

He also claimed he had since been suffering from a condition similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In a statement read to Bolton Crown Court, Mr Locke's widow Doreen said she 'suddenly discovered that her soulmate for so many years was gone.' 

Mrs Locke added: 'He was the guiding light for my family and children.'

Mr Locke, a great-grandfather from Bolton, Greater Manchester, suffered fatal head injuries in the collision and died later in hospital

Mr Locke, a great-grandfather from Bolton, Greater Manchester, suffered fatal head injuries in the collision and died later in hospital

The widow said her daily life had suffered in the wake of losing her husband, telling the court she loses sleep and 'feels lonely'.

Mrs Locke added: 'He has missed significant family events, such as the 18th birthday of his granddaughter, and he never got to walk his daughter down the aisle. The grandchildren have been robbed of their funny granddad.' 

Prosecutor Darren Preston told the court that Mr Locke, who had dementia, was crossing at a red light when the lights were on green for road traffic. 

He said: 'The defendant's wife, Bharti Tailor, was aware of a car in the outside lane going alongside them. When they approached the crossing in question, she said she saw a man going from right to left.

'The defendant went to move into the right hand lane, Mrs Tailor said that there was a car overtaking them. He tried to move in, but he struck Anthony Locke.  

'The defendant said that he 'clipped' the victim. He later compiled a witness statement where he said he thought he was driving about 45mph - but he changed that to about 30mph when he realised that he had not been driving in a 50mph zone.

'He said he saw a figure crossing the road and was worried that if he braked suddenly, something might go into the rear of him. So he made a decision to swerve around Anthony Locke. 

'He made a decision not to brake because he was worried about the state of his car. The speed at the time of impact is an estimated minimum of 27mph and a maximum of 35mph. 

'This was a decision made in a moment and it was the wrong decision. 

'He made the decision to move instead of brake. He has owned the car for 18 years and it is a vehicle he has long cherished and cared for.'

Tailor (pictured outside court) admitted causing death by careless driving and was ordered to complete 120 hours unpaid work, and banned from driving for two years

Tailor (pictured outside court) admitted causing death by careless driving and was ordered to complete 120 hours unpaid work, and banned from driving for two years

In mitigation defence counsel Jason Pitter QC said Tailor, 'recognises the impact that this has has on the family because he lost his own brother in a road traffic collision.'

He added: 'This case is one of an error of judgement. It was a decision that he made on the grounds that he thought that he would avoid Anthony Locke. 

'Swerving to prevent damage to his own car is not the case. He was always intending to avoid Anthony Locke. 

'Anthony Locke was crossing at a red light, when the lights were on green for road traffic. That doesn't mean that there was carelessness on his part, he just made one of those decisions that many pedestrians make.' 

Judge Richard Gioserano told Tailor: 'I don't think it's the prosecution's assertion you were in a position to make the conscious decision to put the safety of your vehicle before the safety of another person. 

'It was not your speed that was the substance of your crash, it was your misjudgement to try to swerve around Anthony Locke rather than brake. If you had taken the decision to brake, it's not only possible, it's likely that the collision wouldn't have happened. It's that misjudgement that is likely to haunt you for the rest of your life.

'The case of this man's life cannot be measured by a few hours of unpaid work, of course it cannot, but I am required to impose this sentence. No sentence available to me can reflect the extent of Mr Locke's loss and her family have had to suffer.'