James Ashman accused of Ipswich crash death fled scene

The trial of 29-year-old James Ashman is now underway at Ipswich Crown Court.

Ashman, of Lower Harlings, Shotley Gate, has denied causing the death of cyclist Benjamin Wright by dangerous driving.

Emergency services were called to the scene of a crash in Vernon Street just before 10pm on October 13, 2022.

The court heard that Mr Wright, 35, was riding his bicycle along Vernon Street, accompanied by a friend of his, also a cyclist, and a female acquaintance, a pedestrian.

The court heard that Mr Wright had been out for dinner that night. He had consumed alcohol and taken methadone during the evening, but was not said to be drunk.

Benjamin Wright was described by his family as a 'happy go lucky' kind of man. Image: Suffolk Police (Image: Suffolk Constabulary)

The three were crossing the road just after the junction with Little Whipp Street and were entering the pavement, with Mr Wright in last place, when the crash happened.

Ashman was driving his father’s blue Audi which, the woman said, “came out of nowhere”, the court was told.

The court heard that Ashman struck Mr Wright side-on. It was estimated that he was driving between 50 and 60mph, with the speed limit being 30mph.

Mr Wright was propelled into the path of a Volkswagen Golf travelling in the opposite direction.

He was then thrown into the air and over a fence into a residential garden adjacent to the road. Mr Wright suffered “unsurvivable” injuries and died at the scene.

Emergency services were called to Vernon Street just before 10pm on October 13, 2022. (Image: Archant)

A tribute released in the days after his death said that Mr Wright was the father of twins, and was described by his family as a “happy go lucky” man.

The court heard that at the time of the crash, Ashman had been speaking to his girlfriend via a hands-free call.

After the crash happened, he took a rucksack from the boot of the car and left the scene, going to her address nearby.

The court heard that when he arrived, Ashman appeared panicked and told her he had been in a crash.

The court was told that she told him to return to the scene. He left and was seen running along Wherstead Road, where he flagged down a cyclist and offered him £40 for his bicycle, which the man accepted.

Ashman then went to the nearby Premier Shop, where he told the owner, who was known to him, that his car had been stolen at knifepoint. He told the shopkeeper, a Mr Kumar, that he needed a lift to Chelmondiston on the Shotley peninsula, with Mr Kumar agreeing to drive him there.

Police discovered Ashman later that night at his friend’s address in Chelmondiston. He was hiding behind a shed and had changed his clothes.

The clothes he wore during the incident were later discovered in a 'bag for life' in the property’s garage. His shoes were found in a rucksack in a bedroom, the same rucksack he took when allegedly fleeing the scene.

The trial continues.