Plymouth Argyle director's wife fined, but acquitted over biker's death

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Friday, November 05, 2010
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This is Devon

THE WIFE of a Plymouth Argyle director has been acquitted of causing the death of a motorcyclist by careless driving.

Kim Stapleton, wife of Plymouth Argyle deputy chairman Paul Stapleton, pleaded not guilty to the charge when she appeared at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday.

She then pleaded guilty to a new charge of driving without due care and attention.

Both pleas were accepted by prosecutor David Evans on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Evans said there was no evidence linking Mrs Stapleton's offence to the death of motorcyclist Robbie Brammer.

Mrs Stapleton, aged 52 and of Tavistock Road, Plymouth, was originally charged with causing the death of Mr Brammer, 31, on March 20 last year.

He died after his bike and a Mitsubishi Shogun driven by Mrs Stapleton were in collision on the Tavistock-bound A386 in Derriford.

He was taken to hospital but died two days later after an operation on a broken leg the previous night.

Barrister Robert Linford, for Mrs Stapleton, said she had received threats following the original charge.

Two police officers were at the back of the court yesterday to ensure order in the public gallery.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC sentenced Mrs Stapleton to a fine of £1,200, giving her 28 days to pay, and imposed six penalty points on her driving licence.

He also imposed a £15 victim surcharge but made a defence costs order, which means that Mrs Stapleton's legal bill for defending the causing death by careless driving charge will be refunded by the State.

A previous hearing was told that Mrs Stapleton allegedly pulled her Mitsubishi Shogun over into a bus lane in Tavistock Road without indicating and was in collision with the biker.

Mr Brammer, who had a 14-year-old daughter, Carly, lived in Southway and worked as a controller for city-based taxi firm Star Cabs.

Mr Stapleton was chairman of Plymouth Argyle before stepping down to become deputy chairman.

Mrs Stapleton declined to comment to TheHerald after the hearing.

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105 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by P, Plymouth

    Sunday, November 07 2010, 11:28AM

    “stupid, PLYMOUTH - you may do well to take notice the next time you go over cattedown roundabout, and see that it is the non bus lane traffic that has to merge into the bus lane, so in effect it should be the buses letting us in!!!! stupid, yes you most definetly are!”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by sharon, plymouth

    Sunday, November 07 2010, 11:24AM

    “money talks,if it was normal people like u and me we would have paid a higher price .my love goes out to robs family x”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by Kevin, Plymouth

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 11:48PM

    “Well said N,N who the hell is Leigh spouting off. Everyone has a right to their opinion, and lets face it the Herald does more than it fair share of editing come censorship to suit itself, or important figures. So let it run its course for a change, wind your neck in Leigh”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by Try to concentrate..., Plymouth UK

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 11:01PM

    “Stupid, Plymouth, you were in the wrong, no brainer. The traffic chaos ref. Gydnia Way has existed for months..you should stop driveing now...you are incompetent and an accident waiting to happen, to yourself ,family , and other innocents.”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by Another Steen lookalike., Totnes UK

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 10:43PM

    “The only reason I drive a huge 4X4 BMW, Range Rover, Mercedes, or whatever, around town, is to let you peasants know... I am ripping you off.... and the bad smell is still the same.”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by stupid, PLYMOUTH

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 7:01PM

    “Bikes shoud never be allowed in bus lanes buses are a nightmare alone..I came up exeter street to the roundabout to go across the embankment oppsite the church next minute a horn blowing its a bloody bus there !! now im in my own lane he now wants to come over and expects me to move i stayed there with him waving his hands !! what a stupid idea normal traffic lane with a bus lane beside it then the bus lane just cuts off dead accident waiting to happen !! same as manadon roundabout another one waiting to happen there !! the list goes on coming from st judes to exeter street roundabout to go down exeter street into town what a nightmarre !!”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by karen, plymouth

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 2:51PM

    “coral read the story properly thats his daughter not hers.”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by karen, plymouth

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 2:46PM

    “she was in charge of a heavy piece of metal,a killing machine in this case,how many more people are going to die because of not driving with due care and attention.my thoughts are with the family.”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by P, Plymouth

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 11:10AM

    “well!!!! is it any wonder there is so many accidents on the roads when clearly so many people do not know some basic rules of the road, and even if they don't know the highway code cannot or choose not to read the signs which clearly show that motorbikes are allowed in the bus lanes - FACT!! CORAL!!”

  • Profile image for This is Devon

    by Charles, Plymouth

    Saturday, November 06 2010, 7:21AM

    “Cars, legalised cleansing of two wheel riders?

    With life valued so low, it shows that life is what we make it. No history or potential being considered, we are judged on the here and now and expected to adapt.

    What about her insurance?”

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