Death Driver Jailed After Sex Act At 70mph

A driver who became intimate in his car with his girlfriend moments before a crash which left her dead has been jailed for seven years.

Minesh Parbat, 36, dropped his trousers and underpants at the wheel of his BMW Z3 to take part in a sex act with Lisa Watling.

Ms Watling, 28, was found wearing only a T-shirt and bra after Parbat crashed on the A2011 in Crawley, West Sussex, on 9 March last year.

The rest of her clothes were found in the car's footwell.

Members of the public discovered Parbat with his trousers and underwear around his ankles in the aftermath of the collision.

He told his trial that Ms Watling, a hair salon worker, had described feeling "horny" and invited him to pull down his trousers as he drove along.

Parbat, who lives in Gregory Close, Maidenbower, Crawley, was last month found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at Lewes Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Jailing him, Recorder Peter Griffiths QC said Parbat was "entirely responsible" for causing the crash "while engaged in some form of sexual activity".

The defendant showed no emotion as he was also banned from driving for three and a half years following his release from jail.

Mr Griffiths told him: "I'm satisfied that the cause of the accident in which Lisa died was your decision to continue to drive your motor vehicle at a speed approaching but not exceeding 70mph while engaged in some form of sexual activity with your trousers partially down.

"I make it clear that the blame for this tragic accident is entirely yours."

Describing it as a "gross avoidable distraction", he added: "You and no-one else was responsible for this road traffic accident and Lisa's death."

Part of a victim impact statement was read on behalf of Ms Watling's father David.

He described the impact of her death as "like a shard of glass through our hearts".

"It felt as though the world around us had collapsed, like someone had stolen the air from our lungs," he added.

Referring to Parbat, Mr Watling's statement went on: "Every tear, every sob is a consequence of his actions."

Richard Cherrill, defending, said Parbat was "in denial" about the crash but wanted a letter to be passed to Ms Watling's family expressing his sorrow.

During the trial, Parbat denied anything sexual had taken place as he drove, adding that he had instead struggled to get Ms Watling off him.

He said he dropped his trousers and underpants as part of a "cheeky little dare" with Ms Watling and that "there was nothing sexual in it".

But prosecutor Philip Meredith told him: "You dropped your trousers and pants to play a part in a sexual act."

Parbat later added: "It's got sexual tones, but it wasn't sexual because nothing happened."

He said Ms Watling sat on the dashboard, then moved in front of him, blocking his view, before he said to her: "No, babe."

Parbat was accused of shedding "crocodile tears" in court "to save your own skin".

Parbat suffered facial injuries in the crash and gave a positive blood test which showed 102 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

The drink-drive limit is 80 milligrams.

Ms Watling died of her injuries after Parbat hit the central reservation and crashed into a fence at about 1.40am.

Earlier in the evening, the couple had gone for a meal at TGI Friday's in Crawley before returning to Ms Watling's home in Langley Green.

After Parbat realised he had left his mobile phone at his home, the couple drove to collect it and the crash happened as they returned.

Parbat told the trial: "I loved her. Even from when I first met her, I had strong feelings for her.

"She was a beautiful person, inside and out. She just had something. She was special."