Banned driver jailed after killing innocent pedestrian in Outwood during police chase

Andrew Kitson, 44, was killed instantly as he walked to his local shop after Adam Badkin ploughed into him at around 80mph as he tried to escape police officers who saw him using his mobile phone while driving.

Mr Kitson was thrown into the air and landed in a garden during the horrific collision on Leeds Road, Outwood, on June 9 this year.

The 22-year-old was disqualified from driving at the time of the incident after twice being prosecuted for using his mobile phone while driving.

Mr Kitson's widow Jessica made a heartbreaking tribute to her partner of 13-years as Badkin was jailed at Leeds Crown Court today (September 4)

Describing the driving as 'an horrific and unforgivable act', she told Badkin: "You have stolen at least 30 years from Andrew's life.

"You have stolen that life from me too.

"You could never repay that debt to my family."

The court was shown harrowing police dashcam footage of the moment Badkin, a former soldier, lost control of his Peugeot, mounted a pavement and caused the death on a busy stretch of the A61.

Katherine Robinson, prosecuting, said police spotted the defendant driving above the speed limit while holding his mobile phone minutes earlier on Main Street, East Ardsley.

Officers followed Badkin along Fall Lane and noticed that he was not wearing a seat belt and had a defective brake light.

Badkin was unaware that he was being followed until officers activated a siren.

The defendant sped off through Thorpe and onto Lingwell Gate Lane, Castle Head Lane and Westgate Lane before joining the A61 and driving towards Wakefield.

He reached 90mph as he drove the wrong way on a mini roundabout, drove on the wrong side of the road and narrowly avoided collisions with other vehicles.

Badkin lost control of the car, mounted a pavement and struck Mr Kitson as the vehicle overturned and landed on its roof.

He managed to climb from the wreckage and ran off but was caught after being chased by officers.

Badkin and the police officers were initially unaware that Mr Kitson had been struck by the car.

The prosecutor said: "He told officers he was disqualified and upon realising he had hit a pedestrian, repeatedly said 'what have I done?'"

Mr Kitson, who had recently qualified to become a train driver, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His wife went to the scene after hearing ambulances and a police helicopter from the couple's home nearby.

Mrs Kitson also tried to contact her husband and became anxious when he did not answer his mobile phone.

She showed an officer a picture of Mr Kitson on her mobile phone and he was able to identify him.

The prosecutor said Mrs Kitson and her father were told of Mr Kitson's death in a police car at the scene.

Badkin, of Westgate Lane, Lofthouse, made full admissions about the incident when he was interviewed.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and a further count of causing death by dangerous driving while unlicensed and uninsured.

Badkin has a conviction for taking a vehicle without consent dating back to 2014, when he was a youth.

He also has convictions for speeding and driving without insurance in 2018.

Badkin received penalty points for driving while using a mobile phone in 2019 and was given a ban in March this year for the same offence.

Badkin sat in the court dock with his head in his hands throughout much of the sentencing hearing.

Mrs Kitson wept as she sat across the courtroom from Badkin with her family members, beside a framed picture of her late husband.

She read a victim statement to the court describing the devastating impact of the tragedy.

Mrs Kitson said: "Andrew was a beautiful soul.

"The most loving, loyal and thoughtful man, an exemplary husband.

"Andrew never even got the slightest chance to fight for his life.

"He should have been safe walking along a 30mph road.

"Andrew was healthy. He was fit and his mind was strong.

"He was beautiful and he was innocent.

"He did nothing to deserve this."

Abdul Iqbal QC, mitigating, said: "The anguish that has been caused to Andrew Kitson's family is immense.

"From the point that Adam Badkin appreciated the enormity of what had happened he has shown genuine regret."

Mr Iqbal said Badkin panicked and drove off after seeing the police as he knew he was banned from driving.

The court heard Badkin had been a HGV mechanic before joining the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

He was later discharged from the army on medical grounds after suffering an ankle injury.

A character reference from his current employer was provided to the court.

Sentencing Badkin, The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl QC said: "This offence is of the utmost gravity.

"I find that this was a deliberate course of prolonged bad driving.

"You were aware of the fact that there were other people about and you drove in what I judge to be a highly dangerous manner at grossly excessive speed.

"You knew that you were being followed by the police but that simply increased your motivation to escape, irrespective of who else was on the road or nearby."

After the case Det Insp Paul Conroy of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team said: "This fatal road traffic collision on Leeds Road was an absolute tragedy for Andrew’s family.

"That day they lost a loving, loyal and thoughtful husband, son, uncle and brother.

"I hope that Badkin's early guilty plea and sentence gives them some comfort and justice.

"What this terrible incident so painfully illustrates is the appalling human consequences of dangerous driving, those who are responsible for committing this offence have no regard or thought that their actions will lead to innocent bystanders being killed and their families having to endure a life sentence through their loss.

"My thoughts are with Andrew's family and friends at this time.’