Mercedes driver spared jail over 55mph death crash

A Mercedes driver who killed a builder when he mowed him down at almost twice the speed limit has been given a suspended sentence.

Brian Wallace, 62, was struck by Tayfun Sakir’s black C-Class car as he crossed Forest Road, Walthamstow, east London.

As Sakir, 23, approached the Hoe Street junction the lights turned green and went to overtake a Fiat Punto which moved away slowly.

Sakir was doing 55mph when he ploughed into Mr Wallace, throwing him into the air, on the night of January 22 last year.

Police and emergency services attended the scene shortly but Mr Wallace was pronounced dead a short while later after suffering multiple injuries.

Sakir stopped at the scene of the collision and was arrested by police.

Mr Wallace, originally from Sheffield, had lived in Walthamstow for the last 20 years and was well known in the area.

Officers are still trying to trace any relatives Mr Wallace may still have in his hometown.

After standing trial accused of causing death by dangerous driving a jury convicted him of the less serious offence of causing death by careless driving.

Judge Nigel Peters, QC, said: ‘These cases are always difficult and sad.

‘Unusually in this case the victim was never traced.

‘I will be corrected if I am wrong, but although there was a name of the deceased, the deceased’s background and who his family is was never discovered.

‘The jury acquitted you of causing death by dangerous driving but convicted you of causing death by careless driving.

‘That count was added at trial and I am told that you would have pleaded to that on an earlier occasion.’

He added: ‘This has affected you greatly.

‘I have seen the medical reports and clearly, as one would expect in killing somebody unintentionally as this was, it has had a great impact on you and of course your family.

‘It is careless driving but nevertheless at the top end and I have to consider whether in all of the circumstances the custodial sentence should be suspended.

‘You have been, up to now, a hard-working man, a family man, keeping out of trouble.

‘I will suspend the sentence with unpaid work.’

Sakir, of (12) Broadlands Close, Enfield, was handed a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for three years.

He must undertake an extended test at the expiration of the ban, pay £300 costs and a £100 surcharge and carry out 230 hours unpaid work.