Jail term for 'senseless killing' due to 'infantile world of biker gangs'
Three men were today sentenced for manslaughter
Last updated 13th Jan 2023
Three men were today jailed for a combined 20 years for what a judge called an 'infantile' killing of a member of a rival motorcycle gang.
A van was driven into David Crawford in Plymouth - after he was seen wearing the 'colours' of a group relating to the Hells Angels.
Justice Neil Garnham told the three members of Devon's Bandidos group they had 'no business trying to dictate who rides bikes where - and what they wear'.
David Crawford, 59, from Ivybridge, was killed following a collision on the A38 in May 2022 - over the apparent 'insult' of wearing the Cornwall-based Red Chief's "colours" in Devon's Bandidos turf.
Dashcam footage from the work van driven into Mr Crawford was shown during the three-week trial, after a number plate was found in the debris.
Justice Neil Garnham told the men they lived in an 'infantile world' where the motorcycle club would take offence about a rival group displaying their colours.
He suggested their intentions 'was to stop the lone motorcyclist' and give them a 'slap' or assault to make their point 'but that is not what happened'.
He told the men the footage from the van's dashcam was 'sickening viewing' and he pointed out the van 'did not stop' despite knowing it had collided with Mr Crawford - which he called a 'ghastly journey'.
He told the driver 'you didn't have the common decency to stop, and instead drove off home'.
He told the other two men he believed they were 'utterly appalled' by what had happened and it was not their common intention to 'run down and seriously hurt or kill' Mr Crawford. But He reflected they did not stay to offer assistance or call emergency services - and instead 'drove off home'.
He called Mr Crawford 'utterly innocent' and stressed he had 'not done anything wrong that evening' and you three have 'absolutely no business trying to dictate who rides their bikes in Devon and what they wear while doing so'.
He called it a 'senseless killing'.
Benjamin Parry, 42, of Plymouth was given 12 years. Chad Brading, aged 36, also of Plymouth was sentenced to four years Thomas Pawley, aged 32 from Ivybridge, was given four years.
A victim impact statement was read at Exeter Crown Court from Mr Crawford's daughter, which relieved the 'immediate pain which felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest' when she learnt what had happened.
She said Dave or 'Mad Dog', a name dating back to his rugby days, was a 'massive character in Ivybridge'.
Mr Crawford's wife reflected on what would have been their 26th married year, saying he was well known in the area and 'will be missed by a great number of people'.
She reflected: "Our worlds changed in that split second" when she learnt what happened from police, and says she continues to struggle with day-to-day life.
Benjamin Parry, aged 42 and Chad Brading, aged 36, both from Plymouth, along with Thomas Pawley, aged 32 from Ivybridge, were found guilty of manslaughter last year.
During the trial in November at Plymouth Crown Court, the jury were shown footage of Crawford riding his black Kawasaki motorbike on the evening of 12 May, when it was stopped by Pawley and Brading in Pawley's black Mercedes car on the St Budeaux A38 off slip.
As the bike was being obstructed, Parry, who was driving his work Transit van, drove behind Mr Crawford and struck the rear of the motorbike. Parry didn’t stop after the collision and David Crawford was pinned under the Transit as it drove on at speed onto the A38; his body eventually broke free at the off - slip at the Weston Mill junction hundreds of meters away from the initial collision.
Paramedics were unable to save Crawford who died at the scene.
Detective Inspector Rob Smith from the Major Crime Investigation Team said: “Parry, Pawley and Brading were all members of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club who together attacked David Crawford, who was a member of a rival chapter, the Red Chiefs Motorcycle Club.
“Amongst the debris found at the crash site was a registration plate belonging to the work van which had been assigned to Parry. Officers attended his address hours after the collision and initially arrested him on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and seized the van.
“However, the van was fitted with two cameras; one on the dashboard and the second filming the cabin and the driver that ultimately showed that this was no accident.”
“Following the collision, the investigation team have carried out a complex and large-scale investigation, to painstakingly piece together the movements of all those involved in this incident and present to the courts a comprehensive picture of what actually happened on that day.
“The standard of that work has been a testament not only to the investigators, but the other departments and agencies that have assisted throughout this case.”
“The evidence has shown that Parry was not working alone and along with Brading and Pawley, the three men worked together in a callous and coordinated attack that ultimately took the life of David Crawford.
DI Smith continued: “David Crawford has been described as the life and soul of the party. A funny caring and protective family man who was deeply loved. The impact of David’s death has been significant. These men have taken away a father, grandfather, brother, and son away from his family in what was a senseless and unwarranted attack.