A man was warned that prison is almost inevitable after he admitted that his dangerous driving caused the death of a fellow motorist in a Carlisle crash.
David George Devoy, 54, did not hold a valid licence, nor was he properly insured to be behind the wheel when he caused the tragic collision. This occurred on Monday, May 2 2022, on the A7 at Stanwix Bank, close to the city’s cricket club.
On that date, a BMW 3 series driven by Devoy ploughed into a Mercedes being driven by 50-year-old Neil Errington, of the Carlisle area. Both vehicles were travelling southbound, towards the city centre, at the time.
Mr Errington died 10 days after the crash. In a tribute, his family said: “Neil was a lovely man who would help anyone he could, old or young. He will be missed by many.”
Devoy appeared at Carlisle Crown Court earlier today when he admitted causing Mr Errington’s death by driving the BMW dangerously.
In addition, he pleaded guilty to two charges of fraud by making false representations.
One of these was made to the DVLA, on April 7 2022, by falsely stating he had lost his licence to apply for a replacement. Devoy made a second false representation three days later, on April 10 2022, to obtain hire of a vehicle.
He is said to have declared that he had no physical or mental defect or infirmity; did not suffer from fits; and had not had any motor accident in the last three years.
Devoy, of Knightswood, Sunderland, pleaded not guilty to charges which alleged that he caused Mr Errington’s death by driving both whilst both uninsured and also unlicensed. These charges will lie on the court file with the facts being dealt with as part of the prosecution case during a future sentencing hearing.
This will take place on December 10 after Devoy’s barrister, Susan Hirst, asked for the case to be adjourned so that detailed background probation and psychiatric reports can be prepared.
As he adjourned the case, Judge Fanning told Devoy that prison was almost inevitable in light of his own actions and a “combination of deliberate decisions” he had made.
The judge imposed an interim driving ban, the precise length of which will be set at the sentencing hearing.
“You shouldn’t be driving a vehicle at all,” said the judge. “You shouldn’t have been driving a vehicle on the day you caused the death of Mr Errington, and to emphasise that I disqualify you from driving from this point forward.”
As an emotional Devoy left the court room, he said to Judge Fanning: “I deserve whatever you want to do.”
