An “arrogant” and “totally without remorse” company director will be "imprisoned" in his home for 12 hours every day for the next six months for causing the death of a much-loved motorcyclist from York.
William Ernest Beckett, 81, was convicted by a jury last month of causing the death of ex-RAF officer and well-travelled motorcyclist Nick Gilroy by pulling out of a side road into his path and fatally injuring him.
The deceased man’s sister Brenda told York Crown Court: “He was the victim of a totally unnecessary crash.” She added that Beckett had shown no sign of remorse, regret or acknowledgement of the loss suffered as a result of Mr Gilroy’s death.
“Our brother’s life has now gone in a flash and we are now left without him forever,” she said.
“He was a lovely, well-educated and clever man. He served his country with true dedication and was a decent human being.”
Mr Gilroy was safety conscious when on his motorbike and had completed a six-month ride through all the US states without any problems, she said.
He had also visited 120 countries.
“Nick didn’t want his life to end like this,” she said.
Nick Gilroy, pictured after his epic motorbike journey through every state of the USA (Image: Submitted)
“I would dearly like to lock you up,” the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, told Beckett, adding that he was “totally without remorse” and “arrogant”.
According to sentencing guidelines, Beckett merited a 12-month prison sentence.
“It is therefore the will of Parliament I have to suspend the sentence,” he said, referring to a new law that tells judges sentences of 12 months or less must be suspended.
He suspended the sentence for 18 months on condition Beckett does 180 hours’ unpaid work and observes a 12-hour curfew from 6pm to 6am for the next six months.
“I am imprisoning you in your house,” he said.
“Go away and hang your head in shame.”
Beckett was banned from driving for three years and must pass an extended driving test before driving unsupervised alone again.
The court heard he is currently working.
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Beckett, of Back Lane, Vernham Dean, Hampshire, had denied a charge of causing Mr Gilroy’s death by careless driving on the B6265 in Aldborough south of Boroughbridge on May 20, 2023.
The jury heard that the motorcyclist was riding within the speed limit when he was killed and that prosecution and defence experts had agreed he could have been seen for several seconds before the crash.
Defence barrister Nicholas Hammond told the sentencing hearing Beckett’s only mitigation was his age, his lack of previous convictions and good driving record.
He had accepted responsibility for the crash when speaking to a probation officer after the trial.