Driver faces jail over death crash

A 25-YEAR-OLD Royton driver involved in a fatal crash which claimed the life of a West Yorkshire student more than three years ago has admitted perverting the course of justice.

College student Adam O’Toole (18) was killed in Salendine Nook, Huddersfield, in 2007.

Brett Kingsley, of Cecil Street, appeared before a judge at Bradford Crown Court yesterday and admitted the offence.

He falsely claimed in a report to police that the damage to his Rover car was caused by vandalism rather than being the result of a car crash. The accident happened on March 6, 2007

Adam, who lived in Holmbridge, was studying for a BTec diploma in sports studies at Huddersfield New College in Salendine Nook at the time.

Judge Jonathan Rose queried whether Kingsley could face any other charges in connection with the incident, but Mr Vincent O’Malley, prosecuting told him that they were “statute barred’’.

A charge of careless driving would have had to have been brought within six months of the accident and the more-recently enacted offence of causing death by careless driving was not available in 2007.

It is understood that an expert’s assessment of Kingsley’s driving meant a charge of causing death by dangerous driving was not appropriate.

Judge Rose agreed to adjourn Kingsley’s case until July 19 for sentence, but warned him that the offence to which he had pleaded guilty was an extremely serious matter and and the overwhelming likelihood was that he would face a custodial sentence.

Kingsley was granted bail with conditions that he lives at his parents home in Oldham and co-operates with the preparation of a pre-sentence report.