A man who killed a retired Lancaster University lecturer while driving a JCB under the influence of cocaine has been jailed.
Dr Anthony Hindle was a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
On Thursday, May 21st 2020 Anthony, a retired senior lecturer at Lancaster University went out for an afternoon ride on his Suzuki scooter in the Trough of Bowland.
He would sadly never make it home.
As Anthony rode along Hollins Lane a JCB Telehandler driven by Joshua Whittaker pulled out from a construction site into the road.
Anthony’s motorcycle collided with the JCB’s steel bucket and he was thrown off the bike, across the carriageway and came to rest on the carriageway next to a white ford transit van.
The 79-year-old sadly died from his injuries at the scene despite the efforts of the emergency services.
Whittaker, now 24, was arrested and subsequently charged with Causing death by driving without due care / consideration while over specified limit - specified controlled drug. Tests showed cocaine in his system.
Whittaker, of Higher Lane, Scorton, pleaded guilty and was today jailed at Preston Crown Court for 42 months and disqualified from driving for five years.
(Above: Dr Anthony and Christine Hindle)
Sgt Martin Wilcock, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This collision resulted in the death of a much-loved man and shows all too clearly the terrible consequences of driving any vehicle under influence of drink or drugs.
“Whittaker’s reckless actions on that fateful day has impacted on many lives – not only those who loved and cherished Dr Hindle but also on Whittaker himself and his family.
“My thoughts today are with Dr Hindle’s loved ones and all of those affected by this tragedy and I hope that today’s sentence will both give them some sense of comfort and serve as a warning to others of the dreadful consequences that can result from driving while impaired through drink or drugs.”
In a victim impact statement, Christine, Anthony's wife said: ''My darling Tony was the love of my life. We met at a village dance and courted for five years while he was away at university and I was doing my nurse training. We had a wonderful wedding on 6th July 1963. We had had 57 years together and three happy, healthy and successful children.
''Tony was a very loving and kind husband. He had an amazing memory and could always be humorous. He was talented – singing and dancing in amateur theatre; playing music including the piano and clarinet; acting and being very active in sport as an amateur cricketer. He also ran an amateur singing group entertaining the elderly and disabled and raised money for many charities over the years.
''The 21st of May was a usual day. As he had done in lock-down he went out on his motorbike for a country run in the Trough of Bowland and to do some essential errands. He didn’t come home. He’s gone and words can’t explain the constant loneliness and sadness I feel. I miss everything, especially the hugs every day. I feel his being killed that day has also totally taken my life too. My life and heart is lonely and broken. It is the longest, loneliest journey I have had to walk after losing the one I love – and I will have to continue to walk it. He’s gone and I loved him.''
His daughter Penny said: ''The impact of losing my dad has been significant to me every day because he wasn’t just my dad – he was my friend and someone I felt I could always turn to for support or help in anything I needed.
''I really miss him and it’s never gone away or eased at all since it happened. My recollection of him in childhood was of him reading to me, encouraging life-long learning and pushing me in a constant quest for more knowledge. He was fantastic as a grandad and great-grandad.''
Giles, his son added: ''We’ve lost years’ of time with him. We’ve had to watch my mother walk through a blinding fog. Lost. Lose her lifestyle. Sell her house. Our family home. Relationships with parents are tricky – you think there’s time, that you will come to some kind of conclusion but then you can’t There’s a lot I will simply never know.''
Adam, his other son said: ''When you lose your dad it hits you in a way nothing else ever has. You feel it deep down in your soul and you know the world will never be the same again. On 21st May we lost our dad and our friend. I say lost but that’s not the right word.
''He was taken from us in a careless act by a selfish young man. Dad has always been a guide to me. I never got to say goodbye to him and thank him for everything he helped me become.''
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