UK court jails Ghanaian 11 years for fatal drunk driving

A UK court has sentenced 37-year-old Ghanaian, Solomon Amissah, to 11 years and six months in prison in a drunk driving trial.

The conviction comes after drunk Amissah, caused an accident that claimed the life of a mother in her 30s.

The tragic incident occurred in December 2022 when Amissah, after attending a Christmas party in Bracknell, Berkshire, drove on the wrong side of the road at high speed.

His reckless act was captured on dashcam footage as he entered a roundabout incorrectly and continued against the flow of traffic on a dual carriageway.

The collision with the mother of three's car, resulted in her death at the scene.

Amissah's admission of guilt for dangerous driving, driving over the alcohol limit, and driving without insurance led to his sentencing at Reading Crown Court.

The court detailed how Amissah, despite being intoxicated, chose to drive at around 10 pm on December 17, 2022, leading to the fatal outcome.

Detective Constable Joy Jarvis of Thames Valley Police condemned Amissah's actions, noting his distraction by a mobile phone while driving under the influence.

“This piece of driving was one of the most dangerous pieces of driving that I have investigated. Amissah, selfishly, got into his car after consuming so much alcohol that he was too intoxicated and impaired to drive and disregarded the safety of other road users.

“He drove along the wrong carriageway for almost a mile, intoxicated and distracted by his mobile phone. This sentencing demonstrates how it is totally unacceptable to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol and using your mobile phone. Our thoughts remain with the family of the victim,” he is quoted in a report published on the website of the Thames Valley Police.

In addition to his prison term, Amissah has been banned from driving for eight years and will be required to pass an extended re-test to regain his license.

GA/SARA

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