A businessman jailed for 22 months after causing the death of a young boy while driving without a licence last month reinforces the need for regular licence checks, say RAC Risk Management.

David Lunn, 61, from Wrexham was convicted of causing death by driving while unlicensed and uninsured, as well as perverting the course of justice.

The company director of Shropshire-based Premier Bodies Ltd drove off after hitting Robbie Gaunt, 9, who later died.

“Circumstances like these reinforce the need for companies to be vigilant and have sound procedures in place for checking drivers’ licences and, with grey fleet drivers, business insurance,” explained David Abbott, technical director at RAC Risk Management.

Risk assessments are critical for fleets, with employers obliged to implement measures in line with health and safety legislation and their duty of care responsibilities when providing company vehicles to employees.

David faithful, a consultant solicitor with Lyons Davidson and prominent expert in the field of fleet risk management, explained that Lunn’s company could have faced a corporate manslaughter prosecution and he personally could have faced a health and safety charge.

But, he said that the prosecution would have seen little point in prosecuting him for a health and safety offence, as well as a causing death by dangerous driving.

“Sometimes the prosecution have to decide what is in the public interest, an academic corporate manslaughter or a health and safety breach would not have added to the mix,” added Faithful.