Joshua Kempster Cleared of Dangerous Driving in Crash That Killed Two Bikers
Fatal Crash on B3035 Shakes Meon Valley Community
Joshua Kempster, 19, from Meon Valley, was behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta when a horror crash killed two motorcyclists. The collision happened on the B3035 near Corhampton when Kempster was just 17. The victims, 58-year-old Andrew Cuthbert and 62-year-old Gary Groves, lost their lives in the tragic accident.
Kempster had initially pleaded guilty to careless driving. But prosecutors fought for a tougher charge: death by dangerous driving. They claimed Kempster overtook another car on a blind bend, then swerved, causing both vehicles to spin. The Kia involved exploded into a deadly fireball, engulfing one rider, while the other crashed trying to avoid the wreckage.
Legal Twist Sees Kempster Cleared
On 15 July, shockingly, Kempster was cleared of dangerous driving after the court heard that the Crown Prosecution Service had never formally accepted his guilty pleas for causing death by careless driving. With no valid convictions, Judge Timothy Mousley QC declared Kempster must be discharged.
“There has been no conviction on counts one or two and the authorities believe he must therefore be discharged. All this court can do is discharge him,” said the Honorary Recorder of Portsmouth.
The CPS is now launching a full review of how the case was handled, amid fury and confusion.
Touching Tributes to Andrew Cuthbert and Gary Groves
The families of the fallen bikers have paid heartfelt tributes to their loved ones:
- Andrew Cuthbert’s family: “Our Dad absolutely lived for me and my sister and he was the best pop to his grandchildren who he adored more than anything. He loved football, music, and most of all, his motorbikes. The hole he leaves won’t ever be filled.”
- Gary Groves’s family: “Gary was the most loving husband, dad, grandad, brother, uncle, colleague and friend. His passion for bikes was immense and he adored his four grandchildren—they were his world. Heaven has gained the biggest angel.”
The tragic loss of these two men has left a deep scar on their families and the local community, racing now to come to terms with a verdict that many see as controversial.
