THE family of a motorcyclist who was killed in a crash at a crossroads in Poole have paid tribute to him and spoken of the devastating impact his death has had on them.

Members of Callum Clements's family were in the public gallery at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, November 24, as a cyclist was convicted and sentenced for his involvement in the crash which killed the 23-year-old.

After District Judge Michael Snow found Garry Kopanycia-Reynolds, aged 59 and of Florence Road, Poole, guilty of riding a cycle in a road without reasonable consideration for others, Mr Clements’s mother read a victim personal statement in court.

She said her son who was “so full of life and lived for the moment” would miss out on the chance to watch his six brothers grow up.

He would also miss out on the chance to become a father himself and all the future family gatherings, she said.

The crash took place at the Shah of Persia crossroads shortly after 7am on December 21 last year.

Kopanycia-Reynolds turned right at the traffic lights from Ringwood Road towards Fernside Road and collided with the motorcyclist who had the right of way as he was heading straight on from Longfleet Road onto Ringwood Road.

Addressing the defendant, Mr Clements's mother said: “These are moments that you have stolen not only from Callum but from his friends and family.”

She added: “On that day my son died and part of me died with him. I will never be the same person I was before.”

Kopanycia-Reynolds was issued with the maximum penalty for the offence in the form of a £1,000 fine.

Ms Clements said she felt her son and those that loved him had been let down by the law, adding that cyclists should be held more accountable for their actions.

Bournemouth Echo:

She said: “It was not Callum who made the wrong decision but he paid the biggest price. He lost his life.”

In a statement read by prosecutor Stuart Ellacott, Mr Clements’s father said all of the family were “devastated”.

“Trying to deal with our loss has left a big hole in our lives,” he said.

Police Constable Leanne Howes, of Dorset Police’s serious collision investigation team (SCIT), said: “This is a very sad case that has seen Callum’s family lose their loved one and the cyclist involved has also sustained significant life-changing injuries.

“Our investigation was able to prove that the defendant clearly turned in front of the motorcycle, which had right of way, and this resulted in the collision.

“This is a demonstration of the truly awful consequences that can be caused by any road user failing to pay sufficient care and attention.”

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  • Note: An earlier version of this article said the defendant was fined £2,500. This was the figure given by the judge, however, the court later stated the maximum fine available was in fact £1,000.