Drunk-driver jailed for seven years for killing teen

A distraught mother has told the Old Bailey that her family’s lives will never be the same again after her teenage son was killed in a hit-and-run by a drunk driver, writes Yann Tear.

The man who killed Junior Alexander on July 18 last year when he drove on the wrong side of a road in Bromley, has been jailed for seven years.

Last month, James Biscoe, of Windsor Drive, Dartford, appeared at the Old Bailey having pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, dangerous driving, driving over the alcohol limit and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.

He was sentenced at the same court on Friday, a sentence which took into consideration his early guilty plea. Biscoe was also banned from driving for 10 years.

Junior Alexander, who lived in Bromley, was riding his e-scooter at 1.20am on Sunday, July 18 last year when he was struck by Biscoe’s red Fiat Punto that was being driven on the wrong side of Southborough Lane.

The 16-year-old was thrown some distance before colliding with a tree. He suffered serious injuries and was found by members of the public around 10 minutes later.

They administered first aid before police and paramedics attended and Junior was rushed to hospital.

Despite the efforts of the medical team to save him, Junior died shortly after 6.15am.

A post-mortem examination held later would give cause of death as multiple injuries.

Junior’s mother, Donna Lonergan, said: “Junior was a kind, humble, intelligent, respectful and handsome young man.

“He was very academic and was aiming to become a lawyer.

“He was waiting for his GCSE results to choose one of the four offers he was given to go on to further education.

“He never got to collect his results, the seven high Bs and two As that he worked so hard to achieve.

“That man killed my innocent son. He made the choice to drive drunk, at speed on the wrong side of the road.

“He then left him to die alone on the road side. He didn’t even call him an ambulance to give him a fighting chance.

“Our lives will never be the same, we are broken. The night he brutally killed my son, my heart stopped beating.

“I love you Junior. You will never be forgotten. Forever by your side. Until we meet again.”

Following the collision, Biscoe had driven off. Debris from his car was found and police immediately set about trying to find the vehicle.

At 5.25am that morning, police received a call to Southwood Close, Bromley, around one kilometre away from the scene of the collision, after a damaged vehicle was found.

Biscoe was found asleep in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition and engine off.

Officers woke him and noted his speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and he smelled strongly of alcohol.

A breath test was administered and Biscoe was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink.

He was taken into custody and made no comment to all questions asked. He was later released on bail.

An investigation was launched by detectives from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, who worked incredibly hard to gather a wealth of evidence against Biscoe.

Specialist forensic work showed that at the time of the collision Biscoe would have had an alcohol level within his body of approximately three times over the limit.

CCTV analysis confirmed that Biscoe had driven on the wrong side of the road and was traveling at a speed of at least 50mph at the time of the collision on a road that was is subject to a 30mph limit.

Pieces of debris found at the scene – including a lower front grille and plastic skirting from the underside of the vehicle – were proven to be from Biscoe’s Punto.

Forensic examination also proved Biscoe to have been inside the vehicle, while mobile phone work placed him in the vicinity at the time.

 

Pictured: James Bisoe (left) has been jailed for seven years for killing Junior Alexander (right) – Pictures: The Met