Leeds driver who killed Dales biker was 2½ times over alcohol limit at noon

A WIDOW has vowed to campaign for tougher jail terms for motorists convicted of causing fatal crashes, after the driver who killed her husband while over the drink-drive limit was jailed for more than five years.
Robert Allaway on his wedding dayRobert Allaway on his wedding day
Robert Allaway on his wedding day

Lorraine Allaway paid an emotional tribute to her husband, Robert, from Long Preston, near Skipton, who died after his motorcycle was hit by a car which was being driven on the wrong side of the road by Andrew Crook in the Yorkshire Dales.

Crook, 48, from Swinnow Grove, Swinnow, Leeds, was jailed today for five years and eight months after he pleaded guilty to causing the death of 46-year-old Mr Allaway by driving without due care and attention when he was almost two-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit.

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Mrs Allaway said: “It is impossible to find the words to describe how we feel about Bob’s death. He was my soulmate and is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about at night. It is hard to accept that he is gone, as he still had so much to give.

“He didn’t deserve to die in the way he did, especially that day when we as a family were already prepared for the loss of my sister who died one hour later from cancer. This is without doubt the hardest and most painful experience of my life.

“This has broken his mother’s heart and she was unable to attend court today due to the pain of losing her only son. Bob is missed not only by me and my family but also by his many friends who are missing his presence and sense of humour greatly and will do for years to come.”

Mrs Allaway said she would campaign in her husband’s name for tougher sentencing for drivers who kill vulnerable road users through careless, dangerous, drunk or drug-driving.

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Bradford Crown Court heard Mr Allaway was riding his motorbike along the A65 near Settle when he was involved in the collision with Crook’s Nissan Note car at noon last October 3.

Mr Allaway, who performed as a Freddie Mercury impersonator at charity events, died at the scene. A roadside breath test found that Crook had 83ug of alcohol per 100ml of breath – nearly two-and-a-half times the legal limit of 35ug per 100ml.

A North Yorkshire Police investigation found that whilst under the influence of alcohol, Crook had driven his vehicle across double solid white lines onto the wrong side of the road and collided head on with Mr Allaway’s motorbike.

Speaking after the sentence, Traffic Constable Dave Seavers, who led the investigation, said: “This was a utterly tragic case which has left Robert’s family devastated by his loss.

“The bad choice Crook made meant that a man has lost his life through no fault of his own and his family faces a future without a loved one.”