Luke Hickman [2019] EWCA Crim 1463

The appellant was sentenced to a total of 7 years and 10 months detention for causing death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol. He was disqualified from driving for 6 years with an extension period of 2 years 11 months and a requirement to take an extended re-test.

The death by dangerous driving occurred when a friend of the appellant was thrown from the bonnet of a car driven by him around a car park. He did not call an ambulance but put her in the car before finally taking her to hospital. Her injuries would have proved fatal in any event but the truth as to how the injuries occurred only emerged days later.

The other offences occurred some months later, he drove dangerously while unlicensed, uninsured and over the limit in a police chase.

Leave to appeal was granted on two grounds, that the sentence for causing death by dangerous driving was manifestly excessive and that by imposing the total sentence the judge failed to have regard to the principal of totality.

The sentence for causing death by dangerous driving was reduced from 6 years and 8 months to 5 years resulting in a total sentence of 6 years and 2 months, which did not breach the totality principle. The disqualification was reduced accordingly to a total of 8 years and 10 months.