A SAINSBURY'S lorry driver sentenced to 12 months in prison over a crash that caused the death of a little boy at a pedestrian crossing in Wareham.

As reported, Dean Boyd Phoenix, 44, of Cibbons Road, Chineham in Hampshire, was found guilty of causing the death of three-year-old Jaiden Mangan by careless driving.

Phoenix, who was filmed 'sarcastically clapping' before hitting Jaiden at the crossing, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court today.

He was jailed and disqualified from driving for 18 months upon his release from prison.

He had entered a guilty plea to the offence at an earlier hearing but denied a more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving which he was cleared of yesterday.

Phoenix was behind the wheel of a Sainsbury's lorry at 8.40am on March 29 2018 when he was forced to stop ahead of the crossing in North Street due to congestion in the road.

One of the vehicles blocking the lorry's path was a red Vauxhall Astra that was parked on the zig zag markings on the south side of the crossing.

Lorry driver who killed three-year-old boy at crossing tells court: "It was an accident, I made a mistake"

The traffic lights at the crossing were green for vehicles when Phoenix stopped, with his lorry partially covering the crossing area.

Jaiden, three, was on his balance bike in the company of his mother and sister as they waited at the crossing.

The lights changed, turning to red for vehicles and a green man illuminating to indicate pedestrians could cross. Jaiden’s mother and sister crossed safely to the other side and the boy crossed behind them on his bike.

As he did so the lorry began to move forward, colliding with the youngster. Emergency services attended and the boy was taken to Dorset County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10.05am.

In police interview, Phoenix said he was completely unaware that the traffic lights had turned red for vehicles and was upset when he was shown CCTV showing that was the case.

Graham David Booker, 71 and of North Street in Wareham, was the driver of the Vauxhall Astra that was parked on the zig zag lines. He admitted charges of driving without due care and attention and failing to comply with a road traffic sign when he appeared at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 9 2018.

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He was fined £285 and ordered to pay £85 costs as well as a £30 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for three months.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: “This tragic incident resulted in the very sad death of a much loved little boy that has understandably left his family devastated and nothing will ever compensate them for their loss.

“It was clear that Phoenix was frustrated with the position he found himself in, but this case demonstrates how motorists still need to show patience in these situations and the serious implications that can arise if we let that frustration get the better of us.

“Drivers need to take time and ensure their actions are safe no matter what situation they are faced with. If Phoenix had taken the time to make the proper checks Jaiden’s death would have been avoided.

“It shows the truly awful consequences that can result in motorists not driving with appropriate care and failing to comply with road markings and is another demonstration of the need to drive carefully and considerately at all times.

“Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the public and the emergency services for their efforts in trying to save Jaiden’s life on that tragic day.”