A retired accountant who killed a lifelong friend and left another paraplegic after crashing with their motorcycles on a road trip to Scotland was spared jail time and advised to “live his life anew” by a judge.
Paul Shrubsole, 60, shook in the dock as the judge told him he was being given an opportunity to live “in a way your friends and victims can’t” more than three years after a deadly accident caused by his lack in concentration behind the wheel.
Shrubsole, from Essex, has not driven since this incident occurred, when he crashed with Julian Wiseman, 57, and Paul Allum, his longstanding friends from Kent University, one of whom was his best man.
The three men had driven from the south of England when Shrubsole’s focus wavered as traffic slowed, and he called one of his travel buddies, striking the two motorcyclists with his Nissan Qashqai.
Defending, Tony Graham KC told the court that Shrubsole willingly relinquished his driver’s license following the accident, describing him as a “unremarkable” man with a “unblemished” driving record and no prior convictions.
Mr Wiseman died on the spot, while Mr Allum had spinal cord damage that required him to use a wheelchair, the court heard.
Shrubsole was found guilty of causing death by careless driving after a trial at Glasgow’s High Court.
Mr Graham stated: “three men who had been friends for four decades set out to enjoy what should have been a vacation, a delightful road trip, and the first proper relief following lockdown.
“When Julian Wiseman died, Paul Allum’s life altered forever.
“Nothing I can say and nothing my lord can do will restore Mr Allum’s health or bring Mr Wiseman back to life.”
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