Man jailed for driving while disqualified weeks after fatal collision sentence

A man who was given a suspended prison sentence earlier this year following a fatal collision has been jailed for eight months after he was caught driving while disqualified and without insurance.

In June, Michael Ronner, of Courtney Road in Kingswood, was handed a suspended six-month prison sentence for the collision on the A4174 in Mangotsfield which led to the death of his passenger Tyler Carley.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.

But a month later the 40-year-old was spotted driving in Mangotsfield by an officer from our Roads Policing Unit who attended the fatal collision in December 2023.

He told the officer at the stop that his disqualification had been “harsh” but was reported for driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

His vehicle was also seized.

At Bristol Magistrates’ Court in August, he pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday 5 November.

Alongside the eight-month prison sentence, Ronner was also disqualified from driving for 31 months.

PC Dan Hamblin, the attending officer, said: “Having attended that awful collision in 2023, I was very aware that he had recently been banned from driving. To see him behind the wheel of a car just a few weeks later was beyond frustrating.

“To then hear him describe his disqualification from driving as ‘harsh’ shows a complete lack of understanding of the impact of his decisions and a lack of appreciation for the responsibilities he has when behind the wheel.

“I hope this case demonstrates our commitment to making our roads safer for everyone and our zero tolerance approach to taking action against those who shouldn’t be driving.”

PC Martin Higgins, the family liaison officer for Tyler’s family, said: “It is thirty-five months since Michael Ronner caused the death of Tyler Carley due to the manner of his driving.

“Tyler’s family have had to endure not only the loss of a much-loved family member, but also Michael Ronner’s reluctance to take responsibility for his actions until the last minute and showing no remorse.

“It is apparent that he had scant disregard for the judicial system having been caught driving whilst disqualified, only a matter of weeks after being sentenced for causing the death of Tyler.

“His sentence today will hopefully allow him some time to reflect on the devastation his actions have caused.

“I would like to thank Tyler’s family for the fortitude and dignity they have displayed over the last three years with numerous trips to court, to see justice served today.

“I would also like to remember Cameron Williams, who was with Tyler on the day he died, and is no longer with us.”