Man admits harvester crash charge

A combine harvester driver involved in a fatal crash in Lincolnshire has been given a conditional discharge.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Neil Hodgson, 26, of Southwell, was driving illegally without an escort when he collided with a truck driven by Bruce Cade, 41.

He denied causing death by dangerous driving and the court was told Mr Cade had been speeding on a narrow lane.

On the fourth day of the trial a guilty plea to the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving was accepted.

The jury heard regulations introduced in 2003 said a combine harvester should have an escort vehicle warning of its presence on the road - but these were routinely ignored during busy farming periods.

The only thing we have ever wanted - because we can't bring Bruce back - was for something positive to come out of this Sally Cade, victim's niece

Farm manager Matthew Smith, 34, of Trent Cottage in Kelham, Nottinghamshire, was also accused of causing death by dangerous driving,

The court heard he sent Hodgson, of Brackenhurst Lane, Southwell, out before the crash near Brauncewell on 30 August 2008.

Smith was also given a 12 month conditional discharge after also pleading guilty to the lesser charge.

Justice John Milmo QC did not impose either a driving ban or penalty points on their licences.

Sally Cade - Mr Cade's niece - called for more awareness of the regulations.

"We can see both sides and we could very easily have been in the same position so we can see both sides," she said.

"The only thing we have ever wanted - because we can't bring Bruce back - was for something positive to come out of this.

"We want to educate the farming community so hopefully this does not happen again."