THE father of a young girl who was killed in a quad bike crash was given a nine month suspended jail term today after admitting her manslaughter.
THE father of a young girl who was killed in a quad bike crash was given a nine month suspended jail term today after admitting her manslaughter.
Gary Cooke, 46, pleaded guilty to the charge in relation to daughter Elizabeth's death when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.
The seven-year-old died after she hit a Range Rover near the family's home in Blackmore, near Chelmsford, last Boxing Day.
The tragedy happened after Cooke had bought identical quad bikes for the youngster and her brother Jack for Christmas.
He allowed them to ride behind his vehicle as she went to collect friends, but the court heard that Elizabeth was unable to control her quad bike and was hit by a Range Rover.
Annette Henry, mitigating for Cooke, said he had always blamed himself for his daughter's death and was “already serving a life sentence.”
Cooke was also banned from riding quad bikes on public roads for two years. His prison term was suspended for two years.
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