A drunk motorist who murdered a teen while attempting to escape a speed camera has been sentenced to seven years in prison, causing outrage among the victim’s relatives.
When James Biscoe, 21, ploughed his Fiat Punto into 16-year-old Junior Alexander in Bromley, southeast London, on July 18 last year, he was three times over the drink-drive limit.
The Old Bailey heard Biscoe hit the teenager, who was on an e-scooter, at nearly 50 mph in a 30 mph zone while driving on the wrong side of the road to escape a speed camera.
Biscoe had been drinking with a buddy that night, according to Judge John Hillen.
‘You had hoped to borrow money for a taxi from your drinking partner, but he was unable to assist, so you opted to drive home on your own.
‘That was the worst decision you’ve ever made, and it resulted in you killing Junior and ruining the lives of those who loved him.’
Biscoe, of Dartford, Kent, was also barred from driving for a period of ten years and six months.
The judge said Biscoe placed his car directly in Mr Alexander’s path when he swerved into the wrong side of the road.
‘You hit him at nearly 50mph causing him to be thrown into the air for some distance before colliding with a tree landing on the pavement, causing terrible injury and ultimately his death.
‘You did not immediately know you hit something but some 10 seconds later you realised you had hit a person and you stopped briefly. You didn’t return to assist Junior, instead you panicked and drove away.
‘To the probation officer you described this as “stupid” and described yourself as a “coward”.
‘Stupidity and cowardice are the mildest ways of describing your behaviour that night.’
Biscoe showed no emotion as he was jailed for seven years but the public gallery went into uproar as Mr Alexander’s parents began crying out at the sentence.
‘Seven years for my son’s life,’ his father Jason Alexander shouted. ‘Taking the p***!’