A MOTORCYCLIST sped through a red light and killed his girlfriend - then tried to blame the crash on her.

Benjamin Stacey, 42, was described as an “exceptionally awful human being” by the victim’s family after he ran a red light at 56mph, “catapulting” him and his partner.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard at his sentencing that the “tragedy was wholly avoidable” and “exclusively the fault of the defendant”.

Prosecutor, Charles Gabb, said on February 11, 2023, at around 6.30pm Stacey and his partner Helen Cooper were driving on Castle Lane West and approached the junction of East Way.

The court heard that Stacey had taken a “concoction of drugs” and was 11 times over the drug drive limit on cocaine.

At the time of the incident Stacey was disqualified from driving for five years for a recent offence in 2019.

However, it was said that the defendant had committed many driving offences beginning at 15 years old in 1988.

A driver of a Volkswagen Polo slowly pulled away from a junction, which was displaying a green light, and began to turn right when the defendant ran a red light and smashed into her car.

Investigations by police found that Stacey was driving at least 56mph in the 30mph zone.

Mr Gabb said that after the “horrific crash” the motorbike acted as a catapult which resulted in Helen Cooper leaving the motorbike.

Helen’s crash helmet came off during the collision and she passed away at the scene.

The court heard that “courageous” members of the public and the ambulance service attempted to revive her.

Stacey was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital, where he underwent an immediate amputation on his left ankle.

On February 22, police attended the hospital and shortly after the defendant absconded and discharged himself.

The following day he was found at and address in Bournemouth where he told officers: “I wasn’t f***ing driving the bike, simple as that.”

A struggle broke out between officers and the defendant, which led to him worsening his injury and a further amputation up to his knee.

He later continued to persist in interviews that it was Helen driving the motorbike.

Helen’s mother, Linda Cooper, said in a statement: “Benjamin Stacey took everything from Helen, her happiness was gone well before that crash and then he took her life.

“You’re an exceptionally awful human being and I hope your injury reminds you of that each time you look at it.”

Mitigating, Rose Burns, said Helen was the “love of his life” and that guilt lives with him each day.

Judge William Mousley KC said the incident was aggravated by committing multiple offences including driving whilst unfit through drug and driving whilst disqualified.

For pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, Stacey was sentenced to nine years in prison.

He is also disqualified from driving for 10 years with an extension of four and a half years, as well as a mandatory extended test.