A FATHER who tried to take the blame after his son had killed a jogger by ploughing into him on a poorly-lit road and then driving off without stopping is facing a prison sentence.
Warwick Crown Court heard that Noah Fury’s son, Matthew Fury, has already been jailed for causing the death of father-of-three Leonard Gaskin in April last year.
Noah Fury, 52, of Shilton Lane in Shilton at the time, pleaded guilty to acts intended to pervert the course of justice following the fatal collision.
And Judge Andrew Lockhart QC observed: “This is linked to the tragic death of a man who was run down in Bulkington by this defendant’s son.”
Prosecutor Tim Pole said: “The defendant’s son was driving a BMW on Coventry Road and hit a pedestrian, Leonard Gaskin, who was 39.”
The married father of three young sons, from Top Road, Barnacle, was thrown onto the bonnet and against the windscreen before falling to the verge.
But Matthew Fury, who had been on the phone at the time, fled without calling emergency services, drove home and told his parents.
Noah Fury and his wife then went to the scene in the BMW.
Mr Gaskin had been killed instantly, and one of the police officers who attended spoke to Fury.
Asked whether he had been driving at the time, Fury replied: “Yes, I’ve just been to Bulkington to get some milk. I didn’t see anything. He was in black.”
As to why he was driving with no shoes on, Fury claimed: “Because I’d just got out of bed to go to get some milk.”
But the officer was suspicious of his account, and the real driver was arrested just after 2am.
Mr Pole said: “Matthew Fury had admitted being the driver before this defendant was interviewed and admitted telling a lie.
“Matthew Fury subsequently pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. He was jailed for two years.”
Tim Sapwell, defending, pointed out: “It was opened that Matthew Fury had told his parents he had hit a pedestrian.
“That’s not in accordance with what he said in his interview, or with what the defendant said. He didn’t know until he got to the scene.”
Judge Lockhart commented: “This was a culpable homicide act in which this defendant misled the police. It crosses the custody threshold.
“The crime is to do what he did when a man was dying at the roadside.”
Mr Sapwell submitted the court may be able to find exceptional circumstances.
At his request, the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Noah Fury, who was granted bail.
But the judge warned him: “You must understand that the overwhelming likelihood is that you will receive an immediate sentence of custody.”
Judge Lockhart also banned Fury, who has since moved to Highgrove Lane, Minsterworth, near Gloucester, from driving.
Told by Mr Sapwell that Fury had driven himself to the court from Gloucestershire, the judge said: “He shouldn’t have done. He should have been advised.” But he ruled that the ban should not come into effect until later that evening.
