Man jailed over mini-moto death

Abbie Perrin had been riding on the bike's petrol tank

A man has been jailed for four years for causing the death of his three-year-old stepdaughter in a mini motorbike accident in Lincolnshire.

Abbie Perrin, from Louth, was sitting on the bike's petrol tank when it was involved in a crash with a truck on 26 May. She later died from her injuries.

George Franklin, 23, of Monks Dyke Road in Louth, had been riding the bike.

He admitted causing death by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing at Lincoln Crown Court.

The bike was being ridden at speeds of up to 20mph along a pavement in Louth, Lincolnshire, when it collided with a pick-up truck.

Judge Michael Heath described Franklin's actions as an act of "crass stupidity".

This sentence is in no way meant to be a measure of the value of Abbie's life Judge Michael Heath

He added: "Abbie was a three-year-old girl who should not have been on that motorcycle on the pavement, there was no insurance, there was no MOT.

"You were the holder of a provisional driving licence who had had five lessons when you were 17. You are now 23.

"You were riding on the pavement, neither of you had a helmet and people nearby who saw what was happening realised immediately that what you were doing was obviously very dangerous.

"As one witness described, it was incredibly dangerous and as another sadly prophesied, there would be an accident."

Judge Heath said: "This sentence is in no way meant to be a measure of the value of Abbie's life. No one can put a value on Abbie's life, like any life it is priceless."

Abbie's 22-year-old mother, Laura Upton, said: "I remember in detail Franklin carrying Abbie in his arms, there was no movement.

"It felt like someone had ripped my heart out and stamped on it."

The girl's grandmother, Carol Pocklington, said Franklin's sentence was too lenient, and added: "I hope he rots."

Insp David Kay, of Lincolnshire Police, said Abbie should not have been on the bike "in a million years".

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The bike collided with a pick up truck