Teen admits killing 19-year-old motorcyclist following crash in Revenge Road, Lordswood
15:14, 04 September 2024
updated: 07:36, 05 September 2024
A teenager has admitted killing a 19-year-old in a motorcycle crash.
Scott Chapman was just 16 when Johb Stanley Treeby suffered serious injuries in the collision in Revenge Road, Lordswood, on October 22, 2021.
Mr Treeby, who had been riding a Honda 125 bike, was taken to a London Hospital where he died 12 days later on November 3.
Chapman, of Phoenix Road, Chatham, was riding a Husqvarna TC250 off-road motorcycle at the time and was also injured.
Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday (September 3), the now 19-year-old pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by driving while unlicensed and uninsured.
The tragic incident was said by prosecutor Janet Weeks to have been caught on camera in footage “just minutes” long and which will be played at the sentencing hearing.
But Ian Dear, defending, told the court Chapman has no recollection of what happened.
He also stated it was “highly regrettable” that due to the teenager being released under investigation by police after the fatal collision and not charged until this year that the third anniversary of the incident was now just a month away.
The subject of delay also sparked criticism from Judge Philip Statman, who told the many Treeby family members sitting in the public gallery as well as Chapman's mother, that such cases “must take priority”.
"I cannot understand for the life of me why cases of this kind are released under investigation," he added, before acknowledging that such a wait would have also “weighed heavily” on the defendant.
Sentencing was adjourned until November 4 for the preparation of probation and psychological reports.
But Judge Statman warned that although those reports were sought, they “in no way indicate the nature and or length” of any sentence that would be imposed.
Chapman, who has no other convictions, was released on unconditional bail.
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