A CARELESS driver who caused the death of a motorcyclist must complete unpaid work. Aaron Borrow opened his Jaguar car door in order to fetch hay fever pills while stuck in a traffic jam in Sussex. The 30-year-old claimed he had checked to make sure the road was clear, and did not see rider Philip Wise, 56, filtering past. Mr Wise was knocked by the opening car door and was then struck by oncoming traffic on the A286 at Birdham. He suffered “indescribable” injuries and later died in hospital. After a short trial at Brighton Crown Court, Borrow was found guilty of causing death by careless driving.
Police were called to the home of Lee Gilmartin in Worthing. There were fears for someone causing criminal damage at the property. When Gilmartin arrived home he ignored instructions to stay away, bounding up the stairs. He shoved an officer into the wall and the officer suffered a sprained hip, Hove Crown Court heard. Gilmartin admitted assaulting a police officer and was ordered to complete 45 hours of unpaid work. Harry MacDonald, prosecuting, said the incident happened on November 19 last year. He said Gilmartin “shoulder barged” the police officer out of the way. Gilmartin was acting in a “volatile manner, screaming and shouting”.