8:43am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Mark Tallentire
A DRIVER has been warned he could be jailed indefinitely for a crash that claimed the life of his passenger.
And the judge hearing the case expressed anger with the Crown Prosecution Service.
David Richardson was at the wheel of a Peugeot 306 when it hit a lamppost, a fence and a tree, killing front-seat passenger Paul Hornsby.
The crash happened on the A167, near Plawsworth, County Durham, at about 11.40pm on October 25, 2008.
Richardson, 27, of Gainford, Chester-le-Street, who was seriously injured, admitted dangerous driving.
At Durham Crown Court yesterday, Judge Christopher Prince said he could be jailed indefinitely.
Tragedy struck when Richardson was driving north, between Pity Me and Plawsworth.
Reports suggested the car clipped the central reservation and returned to the carriageway before careering off to the nearside.
Mr Hornsby, 37, of The Green, Chester-le-Street, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Richardson had been due to be sentenced yesterday, but the case was adjourned.
Judge Prince wanted to see a record of text messages sent and received by Richardson before the crash and more details of his criminal record – and criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for not having the information ready.
“In a case where a young man has lost his life, and a defendant is in danger of receiving an indeterminate sentence, I’m astonished it has not occurred to the CPS to make these inquiries,” he said.
“The deceased’s family will be sick and tired of attending this court, waiting for sentence to be imposed.
I’m angry – and I think I’m angry with good reason.”
He ordered the CPS to explain why the inquiries had not been made.
Lesley Kirkup, prosecuting, apologised to the judge.
Richardson was remanded in custody to appear at Durham Crown Court on March 31.
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