back to article Trucker jailed for deadly motorway gamble

A lorry driver who killed a man on the M25 by crashing into his car while using a laptop has been jailed for five years. Stephen Cook, 42, from mid-Glamorgan, was playing a poker app on Facebook when he hit Peter Kendall's Astra in September last year. The 39-year-old died of head injuries in hospital two days later. Cook was …

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  1. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. g e

      HGV License

      I should imagine this fecker has lost it never to be regained. Hopefully his livelihood gone forever too.

      If not I wanna know why not.

      1. The Fuzzy Wotnot
        Unhappy

        Great!

        So the scumbag will now go on benefits and we will have to pay for his stay at her Maj's pleasure and then pay for him for the rest of his natural, as he is now a liability and cannot be trusted with any job that requires an IQ above 15!!!

        I feel better already!

        I always liked the idea of fencing off a large chunk of the Highlands, dumping all the bellends and scum there to fight amongst themselves for survival. We could televise it and put the money earned back into the Gov coffers.

        1. Mike Smith
          Unhappy

          No. not the Highlands!

          What's wrong with using Essex?

        2. Peter Ford

          Transportation...

          "I always liked the idea of fencing off a large chunk of the Highlands, dumping all the bellends and scum there to fight amongst themselves for survival. We could televise it and put the money earned back into the Gov coffers."

          Wasn't that the idea behind Australia? Look what happened there...

          1. Wize

            I agree on Essex

            Having had a house there for about a year till I found a nice place were the neighbours werent jumping the 6ft fence to mess up the garden and plant spikes for the cats. Where I had 'Fuck Off' scratched into my car's paintwork after parking down the street in-front of someone's house. Where the daily walk to and from the train into London was through scumbag infested areas where they would shout abuse at anyone who had a job for being stupid (as they got everything handed to them on a plate by the council).

            Would have the added effect of reducing the debt on country as we won't be paying to supply these people with Sky+HD and 56inch TVs to watch it on.

            Australia has become more civilised (compared to the convicts sent there in the first place).

            Occasionally throw in a few Z list celebrities for fun.

            "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here" - No Jordan, you are staying in there.

  2. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. Adam Salisbury
      Grenade

      Nearly...

      Try those sentences the other way around, 15 years is still to low for murder, even facebook-induced manslaughter. The porr guy would be spinning in his grave if he knew he died as a result of some facetard's obession with no-stakes hold 'em.

      You know it's time to get out when pot dealers and con men do more time than murderers

      1. Benedict

        ay?

        "no-stakes hold 'em"? That must be a boring game of poker.

  3. Rogerborg

    See? SEE?

    This is why you need to use encryption, SSL and anonymising proxies, so you can enjoy your inalienable human rights to do this sort of stuff without THE MAN bringing some bullshit prosecution.

    You may now commence vomiting up all the usual *sincere* responses, advocating exactly that.

    1. Elmer Phud
      Flame

      Bullshit?

      as per title

    2. Trevor_Pott Gold badge

      @Rogerborg

      What does the right to privacy have to do with the responsibility to pay attention when driving a multi-tonne highly-complicated bomb-on-wheels. One involves computers - devices we use to more conveniently interact with information. The other involves cars: large objects that have immediate real-world consequences if you don’t know what you are doing.

      You can certainly get yourself into some real trouble on a computer; but there are some huge differences. While operating a computer, a lack of attention /might/ get you personally into some trouble. While operating a car, a moment’s inattention can (and so very tragically often does) cost lives.

      So where exactly does privacy have anything to do with paying attention whilst driving again?

  4. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Are we really living in a country where...

    ... a manslaughtering paedophile gets 5 years in prison? Whoop-de-fucking do. Why aren't we locking people like this up and throwing away the key?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Peter Kendall's Astra in September last year

      Don't you know the jails are full of immigrants for taking part in sham marriages, there isn't room for real criminals.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Are we really living in a country where...

      Because right-wing, Daily Mail reading nut-jobs like you have already ensured that the prisons are overflowing with "terrorists" (swan roasting immigrants), "dangerous drug users" (pot) and "paedophiles" (16 year old shagged his 15 year girlfriend).

      On topic: Why no man slaughter charge?

      1. YARR

        More prisons required

        Do you have any specific examples for the cases you've mentioned of such criminals going to prison rather than receiving some other form of punishment / correction - or is it just a stereotype you believe in?

        If criminals are being given short sentences because the prisons are full, then either (i) lesser criminals should be let out early (down to the judgement of the legal system - not the present government) or (ii) we should build more prisons. If we are short of prisons then that is mostly the fault of the party that's been in power for longest in recent times. If we can't afford to build more prisons, perhaps we should outsource them to a cheaper country?

        1. Ammaross Danan
          FAIL

          Scrooge

          As one E. Scrooge of famous note once (fictionally) said: "Are there no prisons?"

          More prisons doesn't solve the issue. What does has yet to be thought of (or put into action), or we wouldn't have people saying "build more prisons."

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            We don't need to build MORE prisons.

            We need to build TOUGHER prisons.

            Make the murdering scumbags hate every second of their incarceration. Have it as a deterrent. You fuck up and we fuck you up.

            Why should they be given steak and chips and the ability to do university degrees when honest hard working students end up in debt trying to better themselves.

      2. Bilgepipe

        Manslaughter

        "On topic: Why no man slaughter charge?"

        The UK is scared to death of linking dangerous driving and manslaughter because it feels people in cars should be allowed to do whatever they like with the minimum of penalty, and because the prisons aren't big enough for the ensuing landslide of boy racers.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Thumb Down

    missed chance.

    You could have used this to peddle the headline 'Justice served. 5 years in jail for using facebook.'

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Black humour warning

    >Peter Kendall's Astra in September last year

    Let some good come out of this and tell us it was a google street view car

  7. TIMMEH

    Alleviating their sense of loss?

    "Our thoughts are with Mr Kendall's family and we hope that the outcome of the trial has gone some way to alleviating their sense of loss"

    If I was Mr Kendall's family I would be extremely unhappy that the man who killed him because he was playing poker and surfing for kiddie porn has been handed a 5 year sentence.

    What a disgrace.

  8. Cameron Colley

    Does everyone have indecent images nowadays?

    Or is it just that things like this wouldn't be reported otherwise?

    Perhaps it's just me but every single story involving someone's computer being searched after arrest seems to result in the finding of child pornography. I'm beginning to wonder whether every site you go to has child porn loading in the background or something.

    @Rogerborg: Piss of you dull troll -- this has nothing to do with using SSL and proxies and everything to do with a piece of excrement who thought gambling more important than the lives of those around him. Using swanky software wouldn't have stopped this fucktard getting court.

    1. mmiied

      maby

      I wander how many of these indecent images of "children" are of 16 and 17 year olds mixed in with pictures of ligitmate 18 year olds and he did not know. maby that is why the guilty plee and the short sentance for it

  9. Paul M 1

    Not to go soft but...

    It only says "indecent images of children". Are we absolutely sure they weren't just pictures of his kids playing in the bath? It's just knowing how plod seems to operate these days...

    Granted 5 years is too short but when it happened to a friend of mine the killer lorry driver didn't even get fined.

  10. g e

    But his many brothers

    Are trying to kill me every day on the M6 and M42 and one punted my sister off the road yesterday in Somerset wrecking her car.

    Can we just have these bastards executed?

    Or maybe reversed over in their own wagon... ATTENTION VEHICLE REVSERSING! BE-DOOP ***SKWISH***

    1. david bates
      FAIL

      What about the roadworks?

      I did contact the Highways Agency about what I was supposed to do about lorries tailgating me in the 50 areas where I cannot get out of their way.

      The official response is to take their number and report them. Pointing out that they tend to be too close SEE their numberplate and I didnt fancy stopping, or scrambling about in the back with a notebook and pencil at 50mph failed to provoke them into any sort of sensible response.

      So now you know.

  11. Bryce 2
    Joke

    Pfffft

    All he has to do is show "genuine remorse" and he won't go to jail at all!

    1. Martin
      FAIL

      A title is required....

      No amount of putting a JOKE ALERT icon makes that funny. It's also not true.

      1. Bryce 2

        Hmmm

        You might not find it funny, but perhaps you missed this delightful [/sarcasm] article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320125/Send-fewer-thugs-jail-judges-JPs-ordered.html

        While it doesn't specify manslaughter, signs say things could potentially go that way.

  12. Richard 120

    Clarkson was right

    enough said.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Joke

      Huh

      What does this have to do with speciale needs?

    2. lpopman
      FAIL

      titular nothingness

      Except it was a running gag in Viz for quite a while before that bellend said it.

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Flame

    how quickly it happens...

    Done for possession of "indecent images of children" as a tacked on crime? When the new porn laws came out there were plenty of warnings that they would be used to make sure of a conviction by destroying the character of the accused, or as a back-up when there wasn't enough evidence to convict of a particular crime. Anything can be declared an "indecent" image based on the feelings of the investigating officer.

    In this case there was a solid conviction. the "indecent images" add-on was obviously just sadism on the part of the cps to make sure there was no recourse to arguing he was an otherwise "decent man" who'd made a tragic mistake. They probably wern't even real photographs.

  14. boatman
    Stop

    so............

    did anyone know if he had a good hand prior to the crash?

    1. MadonnaC

      (more black humour)

      Two pair - Aces over eights

  15. JaitcH
    WTF?

    "indecent images of children" is getting as common as "is that with chips"

    Wow, the guy commits vehicular homicide and they worry about bloody images.

    Better to start figuring out how to stop al this mobile madness - drivers should be doing one thing - driving.

    Perhaps someone should devise an electronic device that will test the drivers alertness and attention to the task in hand. We already have breathalysers controlling ignition systems, now we need systems that will hold vehicle speed to a given maximum which can only be reset by stopping and waiting 5 minutes. How about two hands on the wheel with only certain allowances for gear change time?

    Forget the images, worry about minimising victims.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      @JaitcH

      Don't quote me on this - largely because I can't remember where I read it* - but it seems to me the device you request is currently extant. Tracks the driver's eyeballs and combines with a LIDAR setup to ensure the driver is aware of all threats. Something about two cameras being part of the setup so as to provide proper 3D tracking.

      Anywho...the tech exists. Why would we implement it though? It would kill so many industries of lawyers, protestors and the like. There are entire quangos which would be out of a job!

      Actually, that sounds like good enough reason to make it so…

      *Ars? Would be a good place to start searching...

      1. Tempest
        Unhappy

        This tests driver alertness only ....

        nor whether he is alert but doing something else.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      FAIL

      common sense

      What we *really* need is for people to be RESPONSIBLE. They need to remember that they are driving a large chunk of metal at high speed with only their attentiveness (and some luck) keeping them from killing themselves and others.

      Half of the problem is the fact that modern vehicles do so much of the process for you that you can be in a situation where you are able to not watch the road. The other half is just the modern attitude of "I'll do what I want and sod you" - no one ever thinks of their responsibilities to others.

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Indecent images?

    I'd take that part with with a pinch of salt, especially considering the brief mention it got. As another anonymous coward already mentioned, it might well have been tacked on partially to invoke the kind of feelings other posters have displayed in calling the guy a "murdering paedophile", etc. If this story had been spun the opposite direction, everyone could be crying out that five years was too short for an otherwise decent guy that made an irresponsible lapse of judgement.

  17. Craig 2

    title

    "everyone could be crying out that five years was too short for an otherwise decent guy that made an irresponsible lapse of judgement."

    Let's face it, mentioning Facebook was enough to destroy any illusion he was a decent guy.

    Also, I'm guessing you meant `too long`.

  18. paulc
    WTF?

    WTF?

    were they doing searching his laptop... all they needed was evidence of whether it was on and if he was on facebook at the time and using it.

    Anything else was a fishing exped... and should have required probable cause as to whether it should be searched for.

    of course, it would have been amusing if he'd had the laptop encrypted and refused to divulge the password...

    1. Bilgepipe
      WTF?

      WTF?

      How they go about finding it is irrelevant - he had kiddie porn on his laptop. Did you offer the same criticism to the tech guys who found Gary Glitters stash?

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Sadly,

    not a surprise.

    Driving on the A11 past Cambridge in heavy driving rain both lanes were blocked by trucks overtaking.....driving at near-60 mph (speed limit for trucks on dual carriageways is 50mph, on single carriageways 40 mph) and doing so for over 5 miles. In that time no overtake was made, just side-by-side driving.

    Bad, and frequently criminal, driving by truck drivers is so common that most people driving will meet it every day.

    Seen yesterday: Truck driving along the A1 (BEDS) with a portable tv operating on the dash. Must be a poor trucker, most have a laptop operating on the dash)

    Hands-up all those who have [frantically] had to attempt to move into another lane to avoid the KamiKaze trucker entering the motorway stream on a slip road using the barge-em-aside driving ?

    I promise not to mention (oh....I will then) the one who caused chaos by right-turning out of a layby on the 43 (Northants) and nearly causing several accidents......and the layby has prominent NO RIGHT TURN notices and is engineered to deter such....mind you, it was probably for an important reason....the burger van is in the other layby.

    The reason for all this bad driving and trucks is simple: No IQ test for truckers. If they had to achieve an average IQ then at least 75% would fail.

  20. Geoff Campbell Silver badge
    Boffin

    Adaptive cruise control is the answer

    Mandate the fitting of adaptive cruise control to all trucks. Sorted.

    GJC

  21. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. Nuke
      Thumb Up

      Railway Wagons

      Almost anyway. Order of magnitude fewer drivers required per tonne freight, so the drivers can be (and are) better trained. Plus layers of safety features and automation that results in orders of magnitude fewer deaths per tonne-km. Most freight on motorways should be on rails instead. Suprised no-one else brought this up.

      I am in a project to move some nuclear waste (see my name). We are looking at various packaging options to minimise the nuclear risk to the public. But it is a bit pointless worrying about the packaging, because the public risk is TOTALLY DOMINATED by the risk of the lorries killing people in conventional traffic accidents. I am advocating rail, but I'm told that it is a "value for money" decision. How I h8 that phrase.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Hmm

        Surely you're still going to need road haulage at some point though? There aren't going to be railway stations in wherever it is this waste is coming from and at the disposal site(s), are there?

  22. Anonymous Coward
    Stop

    I hope he drops his soap...

    And this is why I believe that the Internet should be off limits to most people. This and the multitude of illiterate, dribbling fools, who's only use for technology with such potential is to share mundane and poorly spelt snippets of stupidity with the world.

    His sentence was far too short. And in cases like this, the courts should stop them using computers, and/or anything that connects them to the internet. They do it to hackers, and they cause far fewer deaths.

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