Driver Jailed After Killing Man And Hiding True Speed On A1307

Martin Young from Haverhill, 68, was driving his blue Audi A3 along the A1307 on Monday, 16 December, 2019, when he crashed into a Volkswagen Polo being driven by William Hall, 84, at the junction with Dean Road, between Horseheath and Linton.

Mr Hall died in May 2020 after being kept in hospital with a neck fracture and contracting Covid 19.

An investigation found Young had been driving at nearly 90mph and collided with the front of Mr Hall’s Polo, which was turning right across the A1307 at the Dean Road junction.

Both cars spun before coming to rest in the road and Young, Mr Hall and a passenger in the Polo suffered serious injuries.

Initially, it was thought Mr Hall was at fault for the collision but Young provided a witness statement and said he had dashcam footage.

However, Young sent a mobile phone recording of the footage and no speed analysis could be carried out due to it being a recording of a recording.

When police finally got an original copy of the footage, it was clear the footage first provided had been altered to obscure the speed.

This footage showed he was travelling at 86 to 88mph, yet in a telephone statement to police, he described the speed he was driving at as between 60 and 65mph.

Young, of Rutherford Place, Withersfield, Haverhill, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. 

He was also disqualified from driving for five years and 10 months and ordered to take an extended re-test, as well as pay costs of £2116, plus a victim surcharge.

Detective Constable Rochelle Eves, who investigated, said: “Young was travelling at excess speed on the A1307, a road he knew to be notorious for fatal collisions.  

“His attempt to avoid responsibility ultimately failed and it shows that if you lie to the police you will be found out.

“This is another case which shows the importance of careful driving and the dangers of speeding.

“I want to thank the family of Mr Hall for their dignity and patience while we have investigated this sad and complex case.”

In a statement, Mr Hall’s family said: “Bill was a kind, loving and gentle man but also strong and determined.

“He was a proud husband, dad, grandad, great grandad and father-in-law who loved spending time with his family around him. He was always interested and keen to hear what we were all doing.”