Van driver jailed after killing London student
Van Driver Sentenced for Fatal Accident Near London University
A 27-year-old man from Southampton has been sentenced to eight years in prison after a van crash near a London university campus killed a 20-year-old student. The incident occurred on 18 March of last year, as revealed during court proceedings at the Old Bailey.
The victim, Aalia Mahomed, was seated on a bench close to King’s College London’s (KCL) campus in the Strand. According to the court, Jackson was tasked with retrieving a van from Bush House in Aldwych but had no prior experience driving electric vehicles.
Jackson’s van collided with gates near the campus, vaulted over a flower bed, and briefly became airborne before striking Ms. Mahomed. The vehicle then came to rest near the wall of St. Mary-Le-Strand church. The incident was described as lasting approximately six seconds.
During sentencing, Judge Philip Katz KC highlighted Jackson’s lack of van-driving experience, particularly with electric models, and called the case “irresponsibly reckless.” He noted, “It is accepted that you were pressing or pumping the accelerator, thinking it was the brake,” suggesting a critical error in control.
“When you lose a child, you don’t just lose a presence in your life—you lose a part of yourself. Our beautiful Aalia had her entire life ahead of her, cut short at 20 with no warning and no goodbyes… the loss felt across the wider family is immense.”
Jackson had already pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, following the life-changing injuries of two other KCL students, Irem Yoldas and Yamin Belmessous, both in their 20s. The defense argued it was a “tragic accident” without excessive speed, alcohol, or drugs involved, but the judge countered that assessment.
The Metropolitan Police stated forensic findings showed the van had no mechanical defects, and the crash was attributed to “unintended acceleration made worse by Jackson’s panic.” The defendant offered no comment during police interviews, though the judge acknowledged his “immediate and genuine remorse.”
Jackson received three-year concurrent sentences for the two injury charges, meaning he will serve two-thirds of his time before release on licence. He is also banned from driving and must pass a retest to regain his license.
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