A drunk motorist who caused the death of a teenage motorcyclist in a head-on crash near Wisborough Green has been jailed for eight years.
Toby Spiring, who was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit, was behind the wheel of his father’s Mazda CX-5 when he collided head-on with 19-year-old Aidan Venison on the B2133 at Newpound on 30 June 2024.
Aidan, from Billingshurst, had been riding his Lexmoto motorcycle home when Spiring attempted to overtake another vehicle on the narrow country road. The collision happened just two days before Aidan’s 20th birthday. Despite desperate efforts from bystanders and emergency crews, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Spiring had spent the evening drinking at a pub in Billingshurst before getting behind the wheel. When tested by police, he was found to have more than double the legal limit of alcohol in his system.
At Lewes Crown Court on 14 October, Spiring pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, reduced from 12 years for his early plea. He was also banned from driving for five years after his release and will have to pass an extended test before he can drive again.
Heartbreak for Family
In emotional statements read in court, Aidan’s parents described the devastation the crash had caused.
His father, Darran Venison, said:
“Aidan was a talented, funny, good-hearted soul. He had his whole life ahead of him — a life that Toby Spiring has destroyed.”
His mother, Tracey, added:
“You stole his future, and in turn you have destroyed mine. You have taken away my opportunity as a mum to watch my son grow. You have shattered our world.”
Judge Laing told the court that Aidan had been riding lawfully and safely, and that the sole cause of the collision was Spiring’s “disastrous decision to drive after drinking.”
Police Response
Following the sentencing, Sussex Police said the case was a tragic reminder of the dangers of drink-driving. Officers highlighted that alcohol and drug use remain among the top causes of fatal and serious-injury crashes in the county.
A spokesperson said the force would be intensifying its road safety operations over the coming months, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, to target and educate drink and drug drivers before more lives are lost.
Aidan’s family continue to urge others to think before getting behind the wheel after drinking — to stop another family enduring the pain they now live with every day.
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