A 21-YEAR-OLD man who was found guilty of death by careless driving after he hit a man crossing the road in Loudwater, has been given a suspended sentence.

Damien Yearwood, of Rushbrooke Close, High Wycombe, was given a nine-month suspended prison term at Amersham Crown Court on Friday, October 17.

Judge Justin Cole also disqualified the man from driving for three years and cited his inexperience behind the wheel as a major factor in the decision, while telling him he will have to “live with it for the rest of his life”.

Yearwood had previously been found not guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after he hit pedestrian Paul Morris, 48, as he attempted to cross Station Road in Loudwater at about 10pm on August 14 last year.

The court heard the driver had not seen the pedestrian as he was overtaking the car in front of him, which had slowed to allow Mr Morris to cross the road.

He then drove away from the scene before returning ten minutes later.

The victim suffered numerous broken bones and never regained consciousness, dying in hospital on January 3, as a result of his injuries.

Judge Cole said: “This has been a tragedy for the family of Paul Morris and it is also a tragedy for you (Yearwood), you are now 21 and you now have to live with the guilt for the rest of your life.

“This was a careless piece of driving because although you could see the flow of oncoming traffic, you were much too close to the car in front of you.

“Although you drove away, you returned less than 10 minutes later with your girlfriend.

“You were inexperienced after having been driving for about a year and having previously failed your driving test four times.”

Judge Cole also paid tribute to the victim saying as a sign of his value and popularity 350 people attended his funeral.

As well as the driving ban and suspended sentence, Yearwood was also given a community service order of 250 hours and will be forced to serve a curfew from 9pm to 6am.

After three years, Yearwood will be expected to take an extended driving test before he is allowed back on the road.

His defence lawyer, Jonathan Rosen, said: “Mr Yearwood was way too close in the circumstance so when he was overtaking he wasn’t aware of what was ahead.

“Just perhaps had he been driving a bit behind, this incident would not have occurred.”

Mr Rosen added: “He is racked with remorse, he is beyond apologetic and he fully understands and appreciates what he has done.

“Nothing can bring Mr Morris back but Mr Yearwood will live with this for the rest of his life and when he drives up that road he will relive what he did.”