William Brown, 81, tragically lost his life after being struck by a stolen motorbike ridden by Steven Starrs, who then fled the scene. Starrs, 39, confessed to causing Brown’s death in Blackburn, West Lothian, in July of last year. Despite never having passed a driving test, Starrs fled the crash site and was eventually apprehended hiding under a pile of clothes in a friend’s bedroom. He was subsequently sentenced to seven years and four months in jail at the High Court in Edinburgh by the judge, who criticized his criminal history and labeled his actions as cowardly.
Starrs previously admitted guilt for driving at excessive speed, failing to keep proper observations of the road, failing to evade the collision, and driving with a disqualification, which resulted in Mr. Brown’s death. The court heard that Starrs was traveling at approximately 50mph on a stolen orange motocross-style bike when he struck Brown on July 12th. The residential area’s speed limit was 30mph, making Starrs’ actions even more reckless.
Mr. Brown, a father-of-two, was utilizing a walker while crossing Bathgate Road to reach a local bowling club when he was hit by Starrs. Despite no longer participating in bowling himself, he continued to frequent the club socially following his partner’s demise. After sustaining severe injuries such as significant head trauma, bleeding on the brain, internal pelvic and abdominal injuries, multiple rib fractures, and a broken leg, Mr. Brown succumbed to his injuries four days later in the hospital. Judge Lady Ross described Mr. Brown’s tragic passing as a terrible loss and emphasized the community’s devastation following the incident.
Starrs attempted to flee the scene by getting into a black Range Rover before driving off. Police later spotted him wearing a face mask at a petrol station and engaged in a pursuit that ended with Starrs being discovered hiding in a bedroom at an associate’s residence. Starrs’ ex
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