A man has been given a suspended jail sentence after being sentenced for careless driving.

Zachary Sutton, aged 38 and of Fallowfield Walk in Bury St Edmunds, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court Friday 26 November for causing the death of a 35 year old man by careless driving at Pakenham on the A143 on 1 July 2019.

Sutton was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment – suspended for 12 months and he has to do 240 hours unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months, as well as having to conduct an extended retest required at the end of this disqualification.

Sutton was driving a HGV lorry at the time of the incident and failed to see the 35 year old hitchhiker who died in hospital a few days later on 11 July 2019. The victim, who was walking in the same direction as the travelling lorry, was struck by the vehicle’s nearside mirror on the head, causing him to be knocked to the ground.

Sutton was arrested on 1 July and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation where he was initially questioned. Following subsequent police investigations he was charged and during court proceedings he admitted the charge of driving without due care and attention.

Insp. Stuart Dolan from Roads Policing said: “Sutton’s momentary lack of concentration on the road has had huge consequences. The victim’s loved ones have lost someone dear to them and for Sutton he will have to live with the tragic consequences for the rest of his life. It is a sobering reminder for everyone for the need to always concentrate fully when driving.”