COUNTY NEWS: Woman found guilty of causing death of biker by careless driving

Dawn Devine, of Wish Field Drive, Felpham, was found guilty by a jury at Chichester Crown Court today following a five-day trial last week.

Robert Giacopazzi, 48, a landlord of the Prince of Wales public house in Bognor known as ‘Jacko’, was killed on the A259 at a Climping junction near to the Oystercatcher public house on August 25, 2013.

Devine, 55, wept as she was handed a 12-month community order and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

In passing sentence, judge Christopher Parker QC said: “I have seen and heard the evidence during the trial that this was a dangerous junction.

“It was already dangerous on August 25, 2013 and made more so by the fact that there were trees and foliage that were overgrown and restricted your view.

“There was also a large board outside a nearby pub which was placed there, in my view without good reason, which also restricted your view looking down the road.

“These obstructions may have limited the time you were able to see Mr Giacopazzi, and also limited the amount of time he in turn had to see you.

“But that said because you knew it was a dangerous junction it was your responsibility to take extra care when exiting Yapton Road with the intention of turning right.”

He added that Mr Giacopazzi’s sudden death had left a ‘terrible and unfillable void’ in the lives of his family and friends, many of whom had been present during the week-long trial.

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