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| Alana Armstrong: Driver jailed after e-bike crash kills young mum | Alana Armstrong: Driver jailed after e-bike crash kills young mum |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| The trial heard mother-of-one Alana Armstrong died when she suffered "catastrophic injuries", while her partner had his leg amputated | The trial heard mother-of-one Alana Armstrong died when she suffered "catastrophic injuries", while her partner had his leg amputated |
| A driver has been jailed after a "pursuit of anger" ended in the death of a young mother who was knocked off an electric bike on a narrow country lane. | A driver has been jailed after a "pursuit of anger" ended in the death of a young mother who was knocked off an electric bike on a narrow country lane. |
| Alana Armstrong, 25, described as a "caring, compassionate" mother, was a passenger on the bike driven by her boyfriend Jordan Newton-Kay, on Batley Lane, Pleasley, Derbyshire, on 26 November when it was hit by a Land Rover Discovery. | Alana Armstrong, 25, described as a "caring, compassionate" mother, was a passenger on the bike driven by her boyfriend Jordan Newton-Kay, on Batley Lane, Pleasley, Derbyshire, on 26 November when it was hit by a Land Rover Discovery. |
| Keaton Muldoon, 23, of Tuckers Lane, Mansfield, had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. | Keaton Muldoon, 23, of Tuckers Lane, Mansfield, had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. |
| He was sentenced at Derby Crown Court to five years and three months in prison and banned from driving for 12 years and six months. | He was sentenced at Derby Crown Court to five years and three months in prison and banned from driving for 12 years and six months. |
| The judge accepted Muldoon had not intended to cause death or injury that evening | The judge accepted Muldoon had not intended to cause death or injury that evening |
| In June, Muldoon was found not guilty of murder and of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to Mr Newton-Kay, who later had his right leg amputated. | In June, Muldoon was found not guilty of murder and of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to Mr Newton-Kay, who later had his right leg amputated. |
| Judge Shaun Smith KC described the incident in which Ms Armstrong died as a "pursuit in anger, which took place over a mile", and said Muldoon performed a "dangerous manoeuvre on a narrow country lane". | Judge Shaun Smith KC described the incident in which Ms Armstrong died as a "pursuit in anger, which took place over a mile", and said Muldoon performed a "dangerous manoeuvre on a narrow country lane". |
| He added Ms Armstrong was a "vulnerable road user", while Muldoon later disposed of the vehicle and "pointed the finger of blame" at his uncle. | |
| The court heard Muldoon was dealing cocaine nearby and had lights shone into his car. | The court heard Muldoon was dealing cocaine nearby and had lights shone into his car. |
| Judge Smith added: "You turned and followed... you could have left but you chose not to. I reject that you were frightened. | Judge Smith added: "You turned and followed... you could have left but you chose not to. I reject that you were frightened. |
| "I am satisfied the reason was because you were irritated and wanted to teach them a lesson by chasing them and frightening them. | "I am satisfied the reason was because you were irritated and wanted to teach them a lesson by chasing them and frightening them. |
| "But I agree with the verdict the jury returned; you had no intention to hurt anybody." | "But I agree with the verdict the jury returned; you had no intention to hurt anybody." |
| 'So much anger' | 'So much anger' |
| Mr Newton-Kay, who attended court in a wheelchair, had a victim impact statement read out to the court by Sally Howes KC, prosecuting. | Mr Newton-Kay, who attended court in a wheelchair, had a victim impact statement read out to the court by Sally Howes KC, prosecuting. |
| In it, Mr Newton-Kay said he was planning to propose to Alana on her birthday during a trip to Amsterdam they were planning. | In it, Mr Newton-Kay said he was planning to propose to Alana on her birthday during a trip to Amsterdam they were planning. |
| "I planned the trip and bought the ring and the proposal was a massive surprise… she never got to know about it. | "I planned the trip and bought the ring and the proposal was a massive surprise… she never got to know about it. |
| "I don't do anything anymore since she died, I just stay in bed. | "I don't do anything anymore since she died, I just stay in bed. |
| "I have so much anger towards the person responsible for this… I wish it was him that died." | "I have so much anger towards the person responsible for this… I wish it was him that died." |
| Emergency services were called to Batley Lane after the crash | Emergency services were called to Batley Lane after the crash |
| The court also heard from Ms Armstrong's mother Kerry Hall. She said her daughter's death had devastated her six-year-old grandson, who had to open Christmas presents his mother had bought him without her there. | The court also heard from Ms Armstrong's mother Kerry Hall. She said her daughter's death had devastated her six-year-old grandson, who had to open Christmas presents his mother had bought him without her there. |
| "It is hard to know where to start…I've lost my baby. It breaks my heart that I will never get another chance I tell her I love her. | "It is hard to know where to start…I've lost my baby. It breaks my heart that I will never get another chance I tell her I love her. |
| "I will mourn and think of her for the rest of my life – it breaks my heart she won't get to see her son grow up. | "I will mourn and think of her for the rest of my life – it breaks my heart she won't get to see her son grow up. |
| "His actions have ripped the heart out of our family… the light she brought was tremendous and we will never fully recover from this." | "His actions have ripped the heart out of our family… the light she brought was tremendous and we will never fully recover from this." |
| CCTV footage seen by the jury in the trial showed the car following two e-bikes before contact with one of the bikes, causing the rider and the passenger to fall off. The car then drove off from the scene without stopping. | CCTV footage seen by the jury in the trial showed the car following two e-bikes before contact with one of the bikes, causing the rider and the passenger to fall off. The car then drove off from the scene without stopping. |
| Extensive inquiries took place in the area, but the driver of the vehicle did not come forward, the court heard. | Extensive inquiries took place in the area, but the driver of the vehicle did not come forward, the court heard. |
| The jury was shown a CCTV image of the passenger in the Land Rover, which was published in a media appeal on 29 November and on 2 December. In turn, Muldoon handed himself into police. | The jury was shown a CCTV image of the passenger in the Land Rover, which was published in a media appeal on 29 November and on 2 December. In turn, Muldoon handed himself into police. |
| During his police interview, he denied being the driver at the time of the collision and named another person he said was responsible. | During his police interview, he denied being the driver at the time of the collision and named another person he said was responsible. |
| Adrian Langdale KC, defending, said: "This case was opened by the Crown on the basis of persisted pursuit and ramming of the bike… that is not what has been found." | Adrian Langdale KC, defending, said: "This case was opened by the Crown on the basis of persisted pursuit and ramming of the bike… that is not what has been found." |
| He added Muldoon had written a "mature" letter of apology and remorse to the judge on what he had done and the incident had deeply upset him. | He added Muldoon had written a "mature" letter of apology and remorse to the judge on what he had done and the incident had deeply upset him. |
| Sentencing Muldoon, Judge Smith said: "There is no price on human life. | Sentencing Muldoon, Judge Smith said: "There is no price on human life. |
| "I'm not putting a price on Alana Armstrong – neither a sentence can be measure by revenge." | "I'm not putting a price on Alana Armstrong – neither a sentence can be measure by revenge." |
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