Driver jailed for over 2 years after injuring cyclist - LONG

QUOTE:
A drug addict has been jailed for hitting a cyclist with his car four years after being convicted of manslaughter.

Robbie McHale, 25, of no fixed abode, knocked a cyclist off his bike and injured him in York on September 24 last year.

Hull Crown Court heard that then whilst on bail, less than one month later on October 19, McHale was caught behind the wheel with ecstasy and cocaine in his system by an undercover police officer after the defendant ran him off the road.

Following on from McHale's spate of criminality, he was then caught burgling Interest Free 4 Cars Ltd in Stockholm Road, Hull, off Sutton Road on January 18, 2020.

Prosecuting, Claire Holmes said that McHale had a substantial record of 17 offences and nine convictions that included dishonesty, criminal damage and a manslaughter conviction in 2015, where he and two others were found guilty of attacking a man who was then accidentally hit by a taxi in York.

Miss Holmes told of how McHale sent a cyclist over the bonnet of his car during his first offence and then went on to describe the events of the further crimes he committed of driving under the influence.

"The defendant did not see the cyclist and hit him whilst he was on his bike, which sent him over the bonnet of car on footpath and he was arrested.

"The cyclist gave a victim personal statement in which he said he sustained bruising and swelling to his right shoulder with three weeks restricted movement to the shoulder.

"He also suffered a cut to the knee, lost four days pay that worked out at £600, his £250 bike was destroyed and his coat was ripped, worth £200. "The cost to the cyclist in total was over £1,000 and he had discomfort and restricted movement for three to four weeks.

"The second offence was committed whilst the defendant was on bail on October 19 and the defendant was caught driving under the influence of ecstasy and cocaine.

"An off duty police officer was driving from York and saw the defendant move out of his own lane on a single carriageway, causing the [off duty officer] to brake and steer, but was struck in the front offside of his vehicle by the defendant, who came to halt 50-75m away.

"When the North Yorkshire Police attended, a police officer undertook an impairment test, which the defendant failed". Describing the burglary committed by McHale and another unknown accomplice at Interest Free 4 Cars Ltd in Hull on January 18, Miss Holmes said that the pair caused more than £10,000 of damage.

The company, which stores cars that are for sale online, caught the late night criminal activity at the compound on CCTV and Humberside Police were called.

Despite the 7ft fence protecting the property, McHale and another unknown man squeezed through a gap at 8.56pm and proceeded to steal alloys, batteries and wheels, as well as causing damage to vehicles by smashing windows and buckling bumpers of cars before police came at 12.25pm.

"A helicopter search was used to find the men and McHale was seen standing against container and shouted 'busted' to a police officer nearby and then was arrested, but said he did not know where accomplice was." said Ms Holmes.

"The damage that was caused to the cars was extensive - there was theft and damage caused and vandalism".

Defending McHale, Alex Menary said that the defendant was "not someone at a complete loss" as he has held down work and was "thought of well" by his employer, who said a job would be open for him when he came out of jail.

"If he is released and willing to try life around, there will be job held open for him," said Mr Menary.

"He is not someone at a complete loss, but all his offences are related to substance abuse.

"At the time of the burglary he was homeless, sofa surfing and has a drug debt so committed the offences to pay it off.

"He has shown some remorse and reflection into his offending history, so please do not submit a sentence that extinguishes this young man's hope".

Judge John Thackray sentenced McHale to 28 months behind bars for all of his offences combined and disqualified him from driving for two years and ordered that he complete an extended test.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news...ership-4257919

On Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 5:36:57 PM UTC+1, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
Here are the comments for the scum driver after a couple of days:

What a waste of space,typical druggie scum,they know the system and the judge's want sacking,there should be an overhaul of the justice system because there's too many lowlife junkies getting away with
it and causing human misery.

Absolute tea leaf

Charge the judges for not doing their jobs,they are endangering the public ! It's about time the whole legal system was overhauled and put back in favour of the victims instead of letting slick solicitors weave a sob story for gullible judges to fall for it.....I always though you had to be intelligent to be a judge? Week after week they prove me wrong!

How many chances do you Give this scum?

He'll never get car insurance again! So he'll be driving illegally in 12 mths!

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news...ership-4257919

On 24/06/2020 17:36, Simon Mason wrote:
QUOTE:
A drug addict has been jailed for hitting a cyclist with his car four years after being convicted of manslaughter.

Robbie McHale, 25, of no fixed abode, knocked a cyclist off his bike and injured him in York on September 24 last year.

Hull Crown Court heard that then whilst on bail, less than one month later on October 19, McHale was caught behind the wheel with ecstasy and cocaine in his system by an undercover police officer after the defendant ran him off the road.

Following on from McHale's spate of criminality, he was then caught burgling Interest Free 4 Cars Ltd in Stockholm Road, Hull, off Sutton Road on January 18, 2020.

Prosecuting, Claire Holmes said that McHale had a substantial record of 17 offences and nine convictions that included dishonesty, criminal damage and a manslaughter conviction in 2015, where he and two others were found guilty of attacking a man who was then accidentally hit by a taxi in York.

Miss Holmes told of how McHale sent a cyclist over the bonnet of his car during his first offence and then went on to describe the events of the further crimes he committed of driving under the influence.

"The defendant did not see the cyclist and hit him whilst he was on his bike, which sent him over the bonnet of car on footpath and he was arrested.

"The cyclist gave a victim personal statement in which he said he sustained bruising and swelling to his right shoulder with three weeks restricted movement to the shoulder.

"He also suffered a cut to the knee, lost four days pay that worked out at £600, his £250 bike was destroyed and his coat was ripped, worth £200. "The cost to the cyclist in total was over £1,000 and he had discomfort and restricted movement for three to four weeks.

"The second offence was committed whilst the defendant was on bail on October 19 and the defendant was caught driving under the influence of ecstasy and cocaine.

"An off duty police officer was driving from York and saw the defendant move out of his own lane on a single carriageway, causing the [off duty officer] to brake and steer, but was struck in the front offside of his vehicle by the defendant, who came to halt 50-75m away.

"When the North Yorkshire Police attended, a police officer undertook an impairment test, which the defendant failed". Describing the burglary committed by McHale and another unknown accomplice at Interest Free 4 Cars Ltd in Hull on January 18, Miss Holmes said that the pair caused more than £10,000 of damage.

The company, which stores cars that are for sale online, caught the late night criminal activity at the compound on CCTV and Humberside Police were called.

Despite the 7ft fence protecting the property, McHale and another unknown man squeezed through a gap at 8.56pm and proceeded to steal alloys, batteries and wheels, as well as causing damage to vehicles by smashing windows and buckling bumpers of cars before police came at 12.25pm.

"A helicopter search was used to find the men and McHale was seen standing against container and shouted 'busted' to a police officer nearby and then was arrested, but said he did not know where accomplice was." said Ms Holmes.

"The damage that was caused to the cars was extensive - there was theft and damage caused and vandalism".

Defending McHale, Alex Menary said that the defendant was "not someone at a complete loss" as he has held down work and was "thought of well" by his employer, who said a job would be open for him when he came out of jail.

"If he is released and willing to try life around, there will be job held open for him," said Mr Menary.

"He is not someone at a complete loss, but all his offences are related to substance abuse.

"At the time of the burglary he was homeless, sofa surfing and has a drug debt so committed the offences to pay it off.

"He has shown some remorse and reflection into his offending history, so please do not submit a sentence that extinguishes this young man's hope".

Judge John Thackray sentenced McHale to 28 months behind bars for all of his offences combined and disqualified him from driving for two years and ordered that he complete an extended test.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news...ership-4257919

It is about time that "ecstacy" and cocaine were made illegal, isn't it?