Overview

• Neil Platt, 43, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court to 10 years in prison for causing the death of Daniel Aitchison by dangerous driving.
• He was disqualified from driving for 13 years and eight months and must pass an extended test before returning to the road.
• The collision occurred on May 17, 2024, near Skelmersdale on the M58 when Platt’s HGV hit the rear of Aitchison’s Hyundai, shunting it into another lorry and causing a fatal fire.
• Investigators said in‑cab footage showed Platt repeatedly interacting with his phone and viewing pornography and social media, contradicting his claim that he had not used the device.
• Judge Ian Unsworth KC called Platt a “multi‑tonne accident waiting to happen,” as police and the CPS urged drivers to heed the dangers of phone use behind the wheel.