THIS is the moment a man who killed a cyclist in a crash while driving twice the speed limit was caught hiding behind a garden shed after he fled the scene.
James Ashman, 29, has been jailed for 15 years in connection with a fatal road traffic collision which occurred two years ago and for supplying drugs on Thursday.
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Bodycam footage shows the moment Ashman was found hiding behind a garden shed in the dark after a crash which involved three cars and a bicycle.
He can be seen sitting on the floor beside the shed as Suffolk Police walk up to him with their torches and he goes with them during the incident on October 12, 2022.
Road traffic cameras caught the moment Ashman drove recklessly in his blue Audi S3 along Vernon Street in Ipswich, Suffolk.
Two cars can be seen visibly damaged as passerbys stop to help – although Ashman calmly leaves the car and jogs off.
The collision occurred shortly before 10pm and involved the Audi, a grey Volkswagen Golf and a Red Skoda Fabia.
The cyclist, later formally identified as Benjamin Wright, 35, sadly died at the scene.
Police established that it was the Audi that had collided with the cyclist which propelled him into the path of the Golf – before the Audi then collided with the Skoda.
Analysis of CCTV recordings of the approach to the scene and reconstruction of the collision confirmed that Ashman was driving the car at around 60mph.
That was twice the 30mph speed limit when the collision occurred and it was also established that Ashman had been in a phone conversation using handsfree.
The court heard that Ashman fled the scene and initially went to a friend’s address nearby.
He stopped a male cyclist and offered £40 for his bicycle, which was accepted.
After cycling to a nearby convenience store, where he told the shop owner his car had been stolen at knife point and asked for a lift to an address in Chelmondiston.
Later that evening officers attended an address in Chelmondiston and located Ashman hiding behind a garden shed.
He was arrested in connection with the incident and initially taken to Ipswich Hospital as a precaution before being taken for questioning.
The clothes he was wearing at the time of the collision were found in a carrier bag at the address.
Ashman was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in October last year.
Six months prior to this, he had been charged with failing to stop at the scene of a collision and failing to report a collision.
Ashman had admitted failing to stop, but denied the other two offences.
The jury found him guilty by a unanimous verdict for causing death by dangerous driving, for which he received a 14-year prison sentence.
Officers uncovered also large quantities of cannabis and £5,000 in cash at his address and he was further charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
James Ashman appeared before Ipswich Crown Court today (Sep 5) and he was sentenced to a total of 15 years’ imprisonment.
He was also disqualified from driving for 18 years and will be required to take an extended retest.
Ashman had denied the offence of causing death by dangerous driving but was found guilty on July 4, following an eight-day trial.
He was also sentenced to 12-months’ imprisonment to run consecutively to the 14-year sentence for being concerned in the supply of cannabis.
Detective Inspector David McCormack said: “Ashman’s actions that evening were dangerous and reckless, and he showed absolutely no regard for the law or other road users – travelling at almost double the 30mph speed limit.
“It is clear that Ashman attempted to evade justice by leaving the scene of the collision, making up a false story of his car being stolen to persuade an innocent member of public to drive him to a friend’s address, where he then hid from officers. He has then refused to acknowledge the severity of the charge against him.
“The family and friends of Benjamin Wright have been left truly devastated and I hope today’s result will provide them with some closure.
“I also hope this sends a message to other motorists about the consequences of driving dangerously and at high speed.”
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