Dead biker's dad pleads for more care on roads

Celebrated sea cadet Jamie Fox—who was riding the bike he had been given as a birthday present two days earlier—was killed when Nicola Patching (31) emerged from New Orchard Road onto Woodhouse Green, Thurcroft, leaving him with "no chance" of avoiding a crash.

The mum-of-two was handed a 275-hour community order at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday (21) after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving.

But after the hearing Jamie's father, Robert Fox, said that lessons must be learnt from the tragic accident.

"Vigilance save lives," said the devastated dad, of Rawmarsh.

"Jamie was a fantastic and talented lad and each day is agony without him but hopefully this case will prompt a few people to be more aware of bikers on the roads.

"Jamie was blameless but because of Nicola Patching's split second lack of observation he won't be with us this Christmas."

Prosecutor Ms Corinne Wilson told Sheffield Crown Court that the teenager would have had just 0.6 seconds to react when Patching's car moved into his path on January 25.

Jamie was comforted by fellow motorists following the accident but pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at Rotherham General Hospital.

Patching wept in court as she heard glowing tributes to the promising youngster.

Jamie, who was named the Lord Lieutenant Sea Cadet for Nottinghamshire shortly before his death, was described as a "shining example to others" and an "outstanding young man."

Last month his father, Robert Fox, travelled to St James' Palace to receive a posthumously-given Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award from Prince Philip on his behalf.

Ms Wilson said that Jamie had been to show his new Suzuki 125cc motor-cycle to his father in Rotherham and was on his way to see his mum in Worksop when Patching, who had stopped at "Give Way" signs on New Orchard Road, pulled out in front of him.

Jamie had been riding at the back of a convoy of several vehicles.

Patching, who had her two children in the back of the car, had to climb out of the passenger side door following the incident.

Witnesses saw Patching, who was unhurt in the crash, retrieve her mobile phone from the boot of her car before making a call.

Ms Wilson said that she was overheard describing what had happened before saying that she would be "late for the pub," but added: "She did call an ambulance at the earliest opportunity."

Patching admitted to witnesses that that the collision was her fault and that she had not seen the motor-cycle, which had been set up so that its headlight was illuminated at all times as an added safety measure.

Patching was described as "conscientious and caring" by Mr Frances Hughes, mitigating.

He said that she had written a letter to Jamie's family and had also offered to meet them, adding: "Nicola Patching accepts that whatever her suffering might have been it's very little compared to that suffered by Jamie Fox's family."

Judge Graham Robinson said that Jamie was "completely blameless" and described him as a young man with a great deal to live for.

He said: "Tributes have been backed up with solid evidence of his achievements."

Sentencing Patching to 275 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month driving ban, he added: "Nicola Patching will have to live in the knowledge that she and she alone was responsible for the death of another person."

Commenting on Patching's sentence Jamie's mother, Nikki Mee, added: "Nothing was going to bring Jamie back, whatever she got."