Minesh Parbat imprisoned for seven years for causing the death of his girlfriend Lisa Watling by dangerous driving

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

A motorist who took part in a sex act with his girlfriend moments before he crashed has been jailed for seven years for causing her death by dangerous driving.

Prosecutors said Minesh Parbat, 36, dropped his trousers and underpants at the wheel of his BMW Z3 to take part in a sex act with Lisa Watling.

Watling, 28, was found wearing only a T-shirt and bra after Parbat crashed on the A2011 in Crawley, West Sussex, on 9 March last year. The rest of her clothes were found in the car’s footwell.

Members of the public discovered Parbat with his trousers and underwear around his ankles in the aftermath of the collision.

At Lewes crown court, Parbat told his trial that Watling, a hair salon worker and mother of two, had said she felt “horny” and invited him to pull down his trousers as he drove along.

Parbat, who lives in Crawley, was last month found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Jailing him, Recorder Peter Griffiths QC said Parbat was entirely responsible for causing the crash “while engaged in some form of sexual activity”.

Parbat showed no emotion as he was also banned from driving for three and a half years following his release from jail and ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

Griffiths told him: “I’m satisfied that the cause of the accident in which Lisa died was your decision to continue to drive your motor vehicle at a speed approaching but not exceeding 70mph while engaged in some form of sexual activity with your trousers partially down. I make it clear that the blame for this tragic accident is entirely yours.”

Describing it as a “gross avoidable distraction”, he added: “You and no one else was responsible for this road traffic accident and Lisa’s death.”

Part of a victim impact statement was read on behalf of Watling’s father, David, in which he described the impact of her death as “like a shard of glass through our hearts”. He added: “It felt as though the world around us had collapsed, like someone had stolen the air from our lungs.”

And referring to Parbat, Watling’s statement went on: “Every tear, every sob is a consequence of his actions.”

Richard Cherrill, defending, said Parbat was in denial about the crash but wanted a letter to be passed to Watling’s family expressing his sorrow.

Parbat suffered facial injuries in the crash and gave a positive blood test that showed 102 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The drink-drive limit is 80 milligrams.

Watling died of her injuries after Parbat veered into the central reservation and then crashed into a fence at about 1.40am.

Sergeant Clare Kenward, of Sussex police, said after the hearing: “Parbat has blamed everyone but himself throughout and has caused the family of Lisa Watling a huge amount of distress.”