A 20-year-old driver who admitted causing the death of 18-year-old Laionie Kennard from Verwood has been given a suspended sentence.
Joseph Henry Lydon Pickett from Lyneham in Wiltshire, appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 29 January 2025 to be sentenced after he admitted causing a fatal road traffic collision near Ringwood.
Pickett was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years with an extended re-test and must complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
The charge related to a collision at around 9.30pm on Saturday 16 September 2023 on Hurn Road, between Ringwood and Matchams, which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Laionie Kennard from Verwood.
Laionie was one of three passengers in a blue BMW 1 Series, which was being driven by the defendant. It failed to negotiate a bend, left the road and collided with trees. No other vehicles were involved.
Emergency services attended and very sadly Laionie was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation by the Serious Collision Investigation Team (SCIT) indicated that Pickett was believed to be driving at between 43mph and 54mph on the 30mph road as he entered the bend prior to the collision.
Police Constable Leanne Howes, of the SCIT, said: “Our thoughts are absolutely with Laionie’s family and loved ones and nothing will ever make up for their tragic loss.
“This case must serve as another harrowing reminder of the truly devastating consequences that can result from driving without due care and at excessive speed, particularly at night when you have passengers in your vehicle.
“I can only hope that this awful incident makes others stop and think before they get behind the wheel and reminds them of the vital importance of driving in a safe and considerate manner.”