Wife of Stannah Stairlifts MD spared jail after killing motorcyclist during school run

The wife of Stannah Stairlifts' managing director killed a motorcyclist after hitting him with her Land Rover during the school run, a court heard as she was spared jail and fined £200.

Andrea Stannah, 45, was returning home to Ovington, Hants, after dropping her children off when she failed to spot Steven Rayner and struck him as she pulled across a dual carriageway.

Mr Rayner, a 56-year-old civil engineer, was declared dead at the scene after the impact sent him careering into a tree and a fence, Basingstoke Magistrates Court heard.

The court heard Stannah, who is married to Nicholas Stannah, managing director of Stannah Stairlifts Ltd, had to be "dragged away" from Mr Rayner's prone body as she desperately tried to assist him.

Stannah, who attended court with her husband, admitted a charge of causing death by driving without due care and attention, and was also banned from driving for one year.

It was claimed Mr Rayner's death was due to the 45-year-old's "inattention" at the junction on the A31, less than a mile from her home.

Prosecutor Kerry Richardson told Basingstoke Magistrates' Court that witnesses driving on the carriageway in July last year braked to avoid Stannah's green 4x4 as it pulled out into the road, and saw the bike collide with its front near-side wing.

She said: "It is a dangerous road. Mrs Stannah was coming from a side road to cross that road. Clearly extra care should be made."

Stannah's lawyer, Alex Stein, told the court: "Obviously [Mrs Stannah] is extremely traumatised by these events.

"It's caused terrible damage to Mr Rayner's family as well, and she is extremely remorseful.

"She had to be pulled away from Mr Rayner because she was trying to assist where possible."

Sentencing Stannah to eight weeks in jail suspended for 12 months and ordering her to pay £200, District Judge Timothy Pattinson said: "All cases of causing death by careless driving are tragic.

"This case is particularly tragic, involving the death of a family man with wife and children. The court extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Mr Rayner."

Mr Rayner's wife Marie, from Sparsholt, near Winchester, Hants, said: "Losing Steve in the tragic accident was devastating for the girls and I and our lives will never be the same again.

"We recognise the effects of such a tragedy are far reaching and touch everyone involved in the accident."

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Kelly Hargreaves said: "This case shows how devastating just a few moments of inattention can be when behind the wheel.

"Had Stannah taken a few extra moments to look properly and check the road again, she would have seen Mr Rayner's motorbike and his family wouldn't be facing the rest of their lives without him."

Stannah Stairlifts, which dates back to the 1860s and remains a family business, has an annual turnover of £210m.

The company was awarded The Queen's Award for Enterprise four times since 1984 and Prince Charles visited its factory in Andover, Hants, in 2011 to mark its 500,000th stairlift. It has now sold over 700,000.