Mum slams death crash fine

Photios Charambolous, of St Helens Park Road, was fined 500 for his part in the motorbike accident that claimed the life of Sean Pearce-Weston in May.

Charambolous was also banned from the road for six months by magistrates after he pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

"It makes me sick he's walking out free," said Sean's mum Cassie after Wednesday's hearing at Eastbourne Magistrates Court.

"At the end of the day, he's got a 500 fine. I've got to pay for a funeral, a headstone, and I've lost my son.

"This is not justice."

The court heard 37-year-old Charambolous, who wept during the hearing, was driving home from his brother's restaurant in Brighton in a Ford Fiesta courtesy car.

On the Pevensey bypass near Polegate, he tried to overtake a Ford Escort ahead of him.

But as he pulled out he crashed into an on-coming Honda motorcycle which was turning right into a lay-by. Sean Pearce-Weston, from Eastbourne, was riding pillion on the bike.

Kate Heffernan, prosecuting, said: "The passengers in the Ford Escort were all aware of a huge bang just behind them. They saw that the defendant hadn't seen the motorcycle in the middle of the road."

David Alexander, defending, said Charambolous accepted that he did not see the motorbike.

He added: "It was an error of judgement, nothing more than that, with tragic consequences.

"It will live with him for the rest of his life.

"He is very, very remorseful about the whole case. It has been hanging over him for six months.

"Clearly this is a tragic situation and he would like to express his condolences to the family and friends of Sean Pearce-Weston."

Magistrate Piers Pennant told Charambolous that he would have faced a much serious sentence if police had charged him with dangerous driving.

"Because they have chosen not to, our sentencing is curtailed," he said. "This fine does not bear any relation to the family's loss."

The court heard Charambolous already had three points on his licence and was driving a courtesy car as his own was being repaired.

Both the motorcycle and car were examined and found to have been in perfect working order.

After the hearing, Cassie Pearce added: "I have got to pick up the pieces.

"In court it was said he had suffered for six months with this hanging over him, but I've got to live the rest of my life without my son."