A drug-fuelled driver who killed a young motorcycle display team instructor in a crash near the Olympic Park has been jailed for seven years.
Former bus driver Gerald Cotter, 49, of Prout Road, Upper Clapton, had taken cocaine and was doing almost double the speed limit when he caused the collision that killed Kieron Fevrier.
Witnesses described how Cotter overtook a number of cars in a “crazy way” in Orient Way before the crash on the evening of November 30 last year.
He was travelling at more than 50mph in the 30mph zone, forcing other motorists to swerve and brake suddenly as he overtook on the opposite side of the road, it was said.
Mr Fevrier, a 23-year-old motorcyclist from Hackney, suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene in Leyton.
After the collision, Cotter, who has a number of previous convictions for drug and driving offences, told police it was not his fault and he was not to blame, the Old Bailey heard.
Officers found a knife and three stolen passports when they searched his car and he has a number of previous convictions for drug and driving offences.
Cotter - who since pleaded guilty - was sentenced today to six years for causing death by dangerous driving plus a year to run concurrently for having no insurance at the time of the crash.
Judge Stephen Kramer QC also jailed Cotter for a further year for handling stolen goods and a blade, to run consecutively and disqualified him from driving for eight and a half years.
He told Cotter: “It is clear you have deprived a family of a much-loved family member. Nothing I can do today can turn the clock back.”
Kieron was an instructor at the acclaimed Imps Motorcycle Display Team in Newham, known for their red tunics, fire jumps and human pyramids, and who perform displays around the world.
Kieron’s mother, Nicki Fevrier, said they would never forgive Cotter for his “selfish actions”.
“Kieron was a beautiful soul - a kind, generous and funny young man who was loved by everyone he knew,” she said.
“The night we realised our beautiful Kieron was killed will be etched in our minds forever.
“It was like someone ripped out our hearts slowly.”
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