A Romford man who was not legally permitted to drive has been jailed for six years for causing a fatal crash that killed a 70-year-old woman and left her husband with life-changing injuries. Timothy Kusemi, 41, is one of several East London residents sentenced to prison this month, with cases ranging from deadly dangerous driving to a domestic strangulation now covered by specific laws.
A Fatal Failure to Give Way
Timothy Kusemi, of Lower Bedfords Road, Romford, killed Sue Whittles after failing to give way at a crossroads near Rudston in the East Riding of Yorkshire on November 24, 2023. According to the investigation, Kusemi was driving an Audi A6 erratically, swerving across the road, before he entered the junction without stopping and collided with the couple’s Volkswagen T-Roc.
Mrs Whittles died at the scene. Her husband, Bill Whittles, now 83, who was in the passenger seat, suffered multiple fractures to his spine, ribs and sternum. He was airlifted to hospital and spent almost 12 weeks in hospital and rehabilitation recovering from his injuries.
In a tribute provided to the court, Mr Whittles described his wife as a “lovely wife,” “best pal,” and a “much-loved Nan,” who was also a “much-respected local Preacher, Guide Leader and active supporter of Riding for the Disabled.” He has since had to pay £4,500 for a stairlift due to ongoing mobility issues caused by the crash.
Officers established that Kusemi, a Nigerian national who arrived in the UK in 2022 on a work-sponsorship scheme, was not legally allowed to drive. He was permitted to drive for 12 months but had subsequently failed his practical driving test twice, rendering his licence invalid at the time of the collision.
Kusemi was sentenced to six years imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving and an 11-year driving ban. The offence of causing death by dangerous driving now carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, following changes introduced by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
‘Strangulation is Neither Respect Nor Love’
In a separate case highlighting the specific criminalisation of strangulation in domestic abuse, Adomas Daubaris, 57, of Cherry Tree Lane, Rainham, has been jailed for 18 months.
Daubaris strangled his then-partner on two occasions in July and September last year. After the second attack, the victim woke later that night to find he had returned to her home. He was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty to two charges of intentional strangulation.
Despite being released on bail, Daubaris later turned up at the victim’s house on Christmas Day and again on December 27, on the latter occasion taking the victim’s dog.
Sentencing him, Judge Alexia Power stated: “People in intimate relationships should be able to trust and feel safe with their partner. They are entitled to respect and love. Strangulation is neither of those things.”
The offence of intentional strangulation was created by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and came into force in June 2022, carrying a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. Sentencing guidelines introduced in late 2024 stipulate that a custodial sentence is the usual outcome.
Repeat Offender Jailed for Meat Thefts
Meanwhile, magistrates have jailed a repeat shoplifter for stealing meat from supermarkets in Upminster and Dagenham. Kevin Perrin, 35, of no fixed abode, stole approximately £100 worth of meat from a Co-op on May 4 last year, and a further £125 worth from an M&S Simply Food store on October 20.
The magistrates’ court noted his previous convictions for similar offending when sentencing him to six weeks’ immediate imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to two counts of theft.
For theft offences, the maximum sentence is seven years’ imprisonment, though cases are typically heard in Magistrates’ Courts where the maximum penalty is up to 12 months’ imprisonment. Sentencing guidelines for theft consider the value of goods stolen, with sums up to £500 falling into a lower category of harm.
The sentences illustrate the current legal frameworks governing serious road crime, domestic abuse, and theft, with each offender receiving immediate custodial terms.
