A family has been left devastated by a dangerous driver who killed a much-loved husband, dad and grandad on a North Yorkshire road.
Ian Morris, who was 71, was a “kind, caring, generous” family man whose loss had a “catastrophic effect” on the family, his widow Pauline said.
Mr Morris was cycling on the A6055 Leeming Lane near Kirklington, north of Boroughbridge when he was struck by a car driven by Sophie Waugh.
Waugh, 31, of Rowantree Gardens, Redcar, was using her phone and didn’t see him.
It happened on the afternoon of Wednesday 28 June 2023. Waugh, a serving soldier with the Royal Logistics Corp of the British Army, had left her place of work at Alanbrooke Barracks at around 2pm to return home.
Mr Morris, from Bedale, was cycling northbound when Waugh, travelling in the same direction, struck the rear of his bike.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
During Waugh’s journey whilst driving alone, Digital Forensic Unit officers were able to prove that she had been using her phone “prolifically” up to the point of the collision.
This included the locking and unlocking of her device ten times, 13 outgoing messages from Facebook Messenger and six outgoing messages from Snapchat.
Overall, there had been 34 incoming and outgoing messages during this time.
Significantly, the digital evidence report showed that the handset had locked at 2.24pm with the Instagram app on the screen.
Waugh, of Rowantree Gardens, Redcar, was yesterday jailed for six years and eight months at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
‘Horrific consequences’
Detective Constable Laura Cleary, from North Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Investigation Team, said: “Waugh claimed during police interview that she had not seen Mr Morris on his bicycle and even suggested that he must have swerved out in front of her car.
“Witnesses to the collision challenged her version of events, stating that Mr Morris was riding normally and wearing a long-sleeved fluorescent green cycling jersey and had a flashing red light on the rear of his bicycle at the time of the collision.
“They said it was Waugh’s car that had veered towards Mr Morris.
“Thankfully, Waugh has now admitted causing death by dangerous driving and accepts that she was driving while using a mobile phone.
“The horrific consequences of being distracted by mobile phones are plain to see in this case.
“This is a stark wake-up call for anyone who is tempted to use their phones while in control of a vehicle.”
‘A loss so great’
Mr Morris’ wife, Pauline paid this tribute: “Ian Morris was my husband of nearly 50 years, a father to my two sons, a doting grandfather to our four beautiful grandchildren, and a close friend to many. His death has been a loss so great; words will not do it justice.
“To me he was my everything – friend, lover, partner, and teammate. It is like I lost half of me that day. He was kind, polite, caring, full of fun, grumpy at times, but a generous man who loved to plan surprises.
“On happy occasions with the family, on holiday or watching the grandchildren perform or them achieving awards, I feel guilty that I get to see all this, and Ian does not, so the happiness is marred. Sometimes I think I will never really be happy again.”
Mr Morris’ son, Jon said: “It is not possible to put into words the impact the defendant’s dangerous driving has had on all of our lives. An ongoing nightmare that I can’t wake up from, a constant pain in the pit of my stomach.
“He wasn’t just a man that died, he was my father and friend, who loved his life and whose loss has had a huge impact on so many people.”