A backpacker has been jailed in Australia after killing a man during a drunken e-scooter crash.
25-year-old Alicia Kemp has been sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol at a court in Perth, Western Australia, per BBC.
The British national, who'd been travelling around Australia and Southeast Asia at the time, was three times over the Australian alcohol limit when she began riding through the city centre on 31 May with a friend.
Kemp and the second woman, who was a passenger on the scooter, were believed to be going around 12 to 16 mph when they crashed into Thanh Phan, a 51-year-old father-of-two.
Advert
Phan was knocked to the ground and suffered a brain bleed after hitting his head on the pavement, later dying in hospital from his injuries.
Kemp sustained minor injuries from the crash, while her friend was treated for a fractured skull and broken nose. She later made a full recovery.
CCTV of the night has since been released by Perth Magistrates Court, showing the moments leading up to the tragedy.
Kemp and her friend appear intoxicated in the clips and are stumbling around before struggling to board an e-scooter. The two women are then seen speeding through the streets and avoiding other pedestrians before colliding with Phan.
Kemp, who was in Australia on a working visa, has been handed a four-year prison sentence and a two-year suspension of her driving licence. The term has been backdated to June 2025 for time served and she has been granted a non-parole period of two years.
This means she could be eligible for release as soon as mid-2027.
"You, Miss Kemp, are the cautionary tale. e-scooters are not toys," the judge said in their sentencing remarks.
"You are responsible for that person's death, and that is the truth for you. You are responsible for the death of a good man."
The court also heard that Kemp had experienced shame, anxiety and self-loathing and was considered to be a low risk of reoffending.
What are the laws for riding e-scooters?
E-scooter laws vary around the world, with rules in Western Australia stating that passengers must wear a helmet, be sober and not carry a passenger above the age of 16.
The family of Phan have also spoken out, calling the father the 'backbone' of his family. Sharing comments made by his widow to the court, Judge Hughes said: "Ms Li tells me that the victim was a highly respected and dedicated structural engineer.
"She tells me that, first and foremost, he was the backbone of their family in every sense, emotionally, financially and practically. He was strong and loving.
"She tells me that he worked tirelessly to provide for his family, allowing her to work part-time to devote her time and energy into caring for their two sons, who are autistic."
The judge went on to say that Phan's widow is 'physically and emotionally overwhelmed' by the situation while his elderly mother was 'too frail' to travel from Vietnam for his funeral.
"Ms Li tells me that as a widow, the grief, the loss and the sadness she feels is overwhelming. Being alone at night is unbearable."
Topics: Australia, Crime, UK News, World News
Brenna Cooper