Court told cold words of motorist jailed for knocking down biker

A DRINK-DRIVER who knocked down and killed a motorcyclist told a witness at the scene: “I don’t mind if he’s dead.”

Richard Borrett, 66, drank beer and wine before driving along Snowerhill Road, Betchworth, where he hit biker Jason Mickelburgh.

He was jailed for three years at Guildford Crown Court last Wednesday. The court also heard that Borrett told Russell Birch, a witness at the scene: “That’s me f****d.

“I’ve been at the golf club. I don’t mind the fact that he’s dead. I didn’t know him. Motorcyclists ride too fast around here.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

The retired company director admitted causing death by careless driving following the collision on April 16 last year.

Borrett, a grandfather of Lazell Gardens, Betchworth, had been drinking beer and wine with colleagues before driving.

Susannah Bramley, prosecuting, said the defendant had 51 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than the legal limit of 35 – when he drove away from the golf clubhouse.

She added: “He turned right into a country lane and collided with Jason Mickelburgh.”

Mr Mickelburgh, 37, a steel fabricator who lived in Sutton with his mother Brenda, was thrown from his bike and died at the scene.

Ms Bramley said one eyewitness, van driver Robin Welling, told police that Mr Mickelburgh’s machine was clearly visible, and the defendant had asked Mr Welling: “Could I borrow your phone to call my wife?”

As well as his prison sentence, Borrett was banned from driving for three years.

Judge Suzan Matthews said no punishment imposed by the court could bring Mr Mickelburgh back to life.

But she said the offence was too serious and nothing other than an immediate prison sentence would suffice.

She added: “You consumed alcohol at your golf club and you deliberately chose to drive.”

Ken McDonald, defending, said his client was a man of previous good character with a clean driving licence, who had built up a successful computer business and had retired in 1996 to be with his wife of 37 years.

He explained his client was being treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr McDonald added: “He had lunch with friends at his golf club and had drunk a glass of beer and three glasses of wine. He thought he was safe to drive.

“He is full of remorse. He has suffered flashbacks, loss of appetite and loss of sleep.

“He took an overdose of medication and had to be taken to hospital.”