Shropshire driver jailed for teenage lake death
A Shropshire man has been jailed after a teenager died in a road traffic collision in South Staffordshire.
Max Parker, 19, of Alveley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous at Stafford Crown Court and was yesterday sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. He also received a five year driving ban with the requirement to take an extended test upon expiry.
The collision, which happened at around 12.25am on Monday 6 August 2012 in Burnhill Green, near Pattingham, resulted in the death of Ben Henshaw, aged 16, also from Alveley.
Parker was driving his silver Peugeot 206 which left Patshull Road, went through a hedge and entered The Great Pool, a lake near Patshull Park Hotel.
Ben’s body was found in the lake later that day.
Sgt Ian Revans, Senior Collision Investigator at Staffordshire Police, said: "Today's sentence is to be welcomed and I hope it brings some comfort to the family and friends of Ben. This has been an extremely difficult time for all those connected to the 16-year-old, who sadly lost his life last August.
"Max Parker has been sent to prison as a result of his failure to maintain his vehicle in a road worthy condition and his recklessness in continuing to drive the vehicle, in such a dangerous condition, despite being fully aware of the defects for a number of months prior to the collision.
“Today’s sentence should serve as a stark warning to all motorists who use Staffordshire's roads that vehicles must be maintained in a road worthy condition. Failure to do so could have grave consequences and will be dealt with by the courts.
"Staffordshire Police, together with our partners, is committed to making the county's roads a safer place and our efforts to drive down fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions are ongoing."
