Driver involved in Paul Smart crash avoids jail

THE driver responsible for the death of motorcycling legend Paul Smart has avoided prison after he was sentenced last week.

The motorist, David Gladwell has instead been handed down an eight-month suspended sentence after he admitted to causing the death of Mr Smart by careless driving. Defending Gladwell was his barrister John Dye, who told the court his client had made a "monumental and catastrophic mistake" going on to say that Gladwell hadn't driven since the crash and that he now "never wants to drive again".

The court heard how Gladwell, a 66-year-old part-time concierge, had encountered a queue of slow-moving traffic in October 2021, and in an effort to circumnavigate the delay decided to make a U-Turn on the A21 to head back in the opposite direction. It is this manoeuvre that claimed the life of one of Britain's most cherished racers, as Mr Smart, who was travelling the in the opposite direction, then had no way to avoid a collision with Gladwell's Ford Focus.

KentOnline has reported that Mr Smart's son, Scott Smart, had written a statement for the judge to consider requesting that Gladwell be spared jail, going on to state that his father was "the architect of our whole family." going on to say that his late father's experiences and career helped to push him into a successful career in motorcycle road racing.

This is an updated page originally published in February 2023, the previous version of the page can be found below.

A man has pleaded guilty to causing the death of Paul Smart in a road traffic collision in October 2021. 

David Gladwell, 65, from Acland Close, Plumstead, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of Paul Smart by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Gladwell stood in front of Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on 9 February 2023 to deliver his guilty plea.

The incident occurred on 27 October 2021 on the Lamberhurst Bypass, and involved Gladwell performing a U-turn on the A21 in his car, a Ford Focus, and colliding with Mr. Smart, who was riding a motorcycle at the time, as a result.

KentOnline reports that James Nichols, prosecuting, said: "This is a case of a fatal road traffic crash on the Lamberhurst Bypass.

"Mr. Gladwell came across a slow moving queue of traffic and decided to do a U-turn in the opposing lane and collided with a motorbike ridden by Mr Smart. Sadly he died of his injuries."

The case will now be transferred to Maidstone Crown Court for Gladwell to be sentenced. He has been given an interim driving ban until his sentencing, the date of which has yet to be confirmed.

Paul Smart was a legendary figure in global, and especially British, motorcycling, and was famous for his time spent with Ducati, as well as for achieving podium finishes at World Championship level and wins at landmark events, including the Manx Grand Prix and the Transatlantic Trophy match races. Smart’s win in the 1972 Imola 200 - on a Ducati 750 Imola Desmo - was commemorated by Ducati in 2006 with the Ducati Paul Smart 1000 LE.

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