A Wiltshire man alleged to have been in charge of a luxury motorboat which crashed into a cliff in the West Wight last year appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court yesterday (Monday).
Ian Sullivan, of South Marston near Swindon, had been due to enter a plea to an indictment from the Maritime Coastguard Agency but the wording of the indictment was challenged by his counsel.
Now, the wording will be redrafted by prosecutors before being put to the defendant again.
The court appearance concerns an incident dating from September last year when Mr Sullivan is alleged to have been in charge of the boat ‘Sully’ which crashed head-on into a cliff near Headon Warren viewpoint.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the incident, which happened in darkness at 21:17 on 22nd September 2022, led to Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter and 2 Coastguard Rescue Teams being scrambled to the scene. Multiple casualties were taken off the wrecked vessel by the Coastguard helicopter, some with serious injuries.
Last month, Sullivan denied endangering the lives of those onboard in a hearing before the courts in Portsmouth. It was said that the 55-year-old is accused of failing to maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing and all available means appropriate, as well as failing to proceed at a safe speed so that he could take proper and effective action to avoid a collision – something which did not occur.
It was alleged his actions caused or were likely to have caused the death or serious injury to a person, amounting to a breach or neglect of duty.
Sullivan has been bailed and will next appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on 19th May.
if he has a drunk or drug driver with no insurance no mot no tax that crashed in to cars he would just get a small fine 6 points so why has this got to go to crown court
Maybe because of the very serious injuries that some of the people on board suffered?
more than a car crash
Sir you are an idiot!
What else were they doing prior to this?
They were drinking in Yarmouth, before that at The Hut. I know, it was on Facebook
Total bloody invertebrate.
Mr sullivan, if by some strange chance you find yourself reading this, you have no option but to take full responsibility for your actions as master of that vessel.
Left hand down a bit.
It’s high time the law was changed on this, he has probably gone and bought another boat and we will read about him parking that one on a busy beach like Bournemouth!
he should be banned from having a boat!!
You are not wrong. He now has a bigger more expensive boat in Salterns marina. We need credit card captain to come down and film every time they come in to berth!! Or we can just watch the marina web cam every time he comes in! Just in case…..