Gosport Transit driver jailed for killing 81-year-old pedestrian in Lee-on-the-Solent

By Tom Morton
Published 29th Jun 2023, 12:30 BST
Updated 29th Jun 2023, 12:34 BST
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A drunk-driver from Gosport has been jailed for killing a man in a hit-and-run collision.

Dean Reynolds, 49, of Merstone Road, was drunk behind the wheel of his Ford Transit van when he struck pedestrian Ronald Bird on Marine Parade West in June last year.

Today at Portsmouth Crown Court, Reynolds was sentenced for causing death by dangerous driving following a guilty plea.

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Dean Reynolds, 49, of Merstone Road in Gosport, was drunk behind the wheel of his Ford Transit van when he struck and killed pedestrian Ronald Bird on Marine Parade West in Lee-on-the-Solent in June 2022 Picture: Hampshire policeDean Reynolds, 49, of Merstone Road in Gosport, was drunk behind the wheel of his Ford Transit van when he struck and killed pedestrian Ronald Bird on Marine Parade West in Lee-on-the-Solent in June 2022 Picture: Hampshire police
Dean Reynolds, 49, of Merstone Road in Gosport, was drunk behind the wheel of his Ford Transit van when he struck and killed pedestrian Ronald Bird on Marine Parade West in Lee-on-the-Solent in June 2022 Picture: Hampshire police

He was handed a six-year prison sentence and disqualified from driving for 10 years.

The court heard that Mr Bird, 81, from Lee-on-the-Solent, had left his home on Sunday, June 26 to post a letter, before then crossing Marine Parade West to walk along the seafront.

At about 1.50pm Mr Bird was struck in the carriageway by the grey van driven by Reynolds, who did not stop.

Sadly Mr Bird suffered serious injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where he passed away on Thursday, July 28.

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Witnesses took photographs of the Transit as it was driven off and officers found it at Pinkmead Farm in Curdridge about an hour later. Reynolds was sat in the driver's seat and provided an alcohol breath sample of 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. This is more than double the legal limit, which is 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Detective Sergeant Cate Paling, who is from Hampshire police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘Reynolds must have drunk a substantial amount of alcohol prior to driving that day, if he was still that much over the limit so long after the collision.

‘I want to thank the members of the public who took pictures of the van so we were able to track Reynolds down so quickly and secure vital evidence.‘Drink driving is completely unacceptable and can lead to devastating consequences such as the serious injury or death of innocent people like Mr Bird. Please think twice before getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. You could easily use other means of transportation that don't put people's lives at risk and there is no excuse for it. All our thoughts are with Mr Bird's family.’