Essex: GP found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving

16/05/2011

A GP who suffered from glaucoma has today been found guilty of death by dangerous driving at Basildon Crown Court.

Aloke Basu, 65, had previously admitted that he didn't see Shirley Watkins, 74, cross the road in front of him, but had always denied causing her death by dangerous driving.

Basildon Crown Court heard that he had been receiving treatment for glaucoma since 2000 and had failed to follow advice to notify the DVLA that his sight could be affecting his driving.

The day after the tragedy outside Waitrose in Shoebury, Southend, Basu contacted the government driving agency and was ordered to take an eye test, the jury heard.

His licence was revoked after it was found he had such severely impaired vision in one eye that he could not read the top line of letters in a test, which is routinely given at a distance of 20ft. A person with normal eyesight can read the line from a distance of nearly 200ft.

His other eye was a borderline fail, the court heard.

Reviewing lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service, Suzanne Stringer said: "To drive with deficient eyesight obviously creates a danger and a hazard to others. In fact, after reviewing his medical history in terms of his eyesight, it is surprising he could see anything at all.

"He therefore had a responsibility to report his condition to the DVLA or to refrain from using the road, and his failure to act has ultimately led to the death of an innocent person with tragic consequences for her and her family."

Basu, of Thorpe Bay, Essex, was driving at speeds of between 41mph and 57mph on a 40mph dual carriageway when he hit Mrs Watkins on February 5 last year, the court was told.

Basu will be sentenced on July 21, 2011 at Basildon Crown Court.