Man sentenced for careless driving following death of co-worker

A man has been sentenced for careless driving offences after he collided with a co-worker on the A34 in Tittensor in 2022.

Carl Sargeant, 45, of Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to one-year imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Birmingham Crown Court today (Friday 13 December) after he was previously found guilty of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to take an extended retest, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay a surcharge of £1,200.

Sargeant and other colleagues joined Martyn Ball for a drink at a pub in Stone after finishing a shift working as security staff on Monday 29 August.

At about 3.40am, the group left the pub to set off home. Sargeant was driving a LDV Maxus van and Ball was riding a blue Yamaha motorbike.

Sargeant ignored the one-way road and took a shortcut onto Newcastle Road. When he joined the A34, he collided with Ball’s motorbike near to Winghouse Lane, sending him into the central reservation.

Sadly, Ball, who was 30 at the time, died as a result of his injuries in hospital on Sunday 4 September the same year.

At the time, his family said: "Martyn lived life to the full and was loved by many. He was always happy and a ray of light in everyone's lives who knew him.”

Sergeant Rich Moors, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: “My thoughts and condolences are still very much with Mr Ball’s family following the conclusion of this investigation today.

“This goes to show how much poor driving can devastate families and the lives of those involved.

“Officers across Staffordshire are working hard each and every day to target those putting

themselves and others at risk on our road networks as proactively and effectively as possible.”