Teen admits causing Murton motorcyclist's death in dangerous overtake

Jack Appleton, now 19 and of Coach Lane in Hazlerigg, Newcastle, admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Teesside Crown Court. The charge relates to a crash on Spring Road in Murton, County Durham, on 22 September in which 29-year-old Andrew Robson died. Appleton was 17 at the time. His sentencing was postponed until Thursday.

Judge Amanda Rippon said Appleton was approaching a slow-moving queue of traffic well above the 50mph speed limit when he chose to overtake in obviously dangerous circumstances. Mr Robson was travelling in the opposite direction and could be seen, the court heard. The judge said other vehicles and pedestrians also made the overtake a highly dangerous manoeuvre.

Before deciding whether Appleton's inevitable prison sentence could be suspended, Rippon said she needed more information about his learning difficulties and a condition mentioned in a defence note, as well as how his age could affect the sentence. She told his legal team their submissions needed to improve substantially. The court heard Appleton had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder because of the crash and had shown genuine remorse, with the judge saying he was desperately sorry.

The court heard restrictions had been placed on the number of people allowed in the public gallery in courtroom 11 because of issues involving some parties outside the building. Rippon told relatives of both men that she was acutely aware no one would be happy with the delay in such a tragic case, and asked the families to reflect on the feelings of the opposite side. She said one family had lost a son, brother and father they would never get back, and that nothing she did could bring Mr Robson back or ease their pain. She described the other side as a 17-year-old "man-boy" whose dangerous driving lasted a few minutes but would have a lifelong impact, and said his family had also been heavily affected.

Rippon told Appleton he would certainly receive a prison sentence, with the only question being whether factors in the case and his personal circumstances meant it should be suspended. She said she had not yet decided and warned him to arrive at court on Thursday ready to go to prison. Appleton was released on bail.