Graham Belcher jailed for killing Scott Rose in horror hit and run

A British ex-pat was banned from driving at the time he ploughed into a young dad in a fatal hit-and-run. His horror driving record was also revealed as he was sentenced in court.

UPDATED

The man responsible for killing beloved Gold Coast motorcyclist Scott Rose in a hit and run has been sentenced to four years and nine months in jail.

Graham Stephen Belcher, 53, will be eligible for parole in January 2023 with the Sydney District Court’s Judge Dina Yehia sentencing him to a non parole period of three years which she backdated to January 2020.

The court heard the British ex-pat was on bail for other serious driving offences at the time of the September 2019 tragedy at Tumbulgum with the condition he refrain from getting behind the wheel.

In delivering her judgment on Tuesday (July 6) Judge Yehia detailed how Belcher nevertheless rented a car from Budget at the Coolangatta Airport on August 28, 2019 with the intention of returning it on September 3.

Belcher appeared onscreen during the proceedings, his shoulder length grey hair and flowing beard brushed neatly, and wearing a pair of reading glasses and a green prison issue jumper from inside Mid North Coast Correctional Centre at Kempsey.

He previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing GBH and two counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Graham Belcher. Picture: Facebook

Judge Yehia described Belcher’s decision to fail to give way and instead proceed through the intersection and collide with Mr Rose, 39, and fellow Movie World ride operator Barry Nolan as “a serious example of misjudgment”.

The judge described how Belcher, who has an extensive driving history in Queensland, NSW and the United Kingdom, made a u turn after the collision and stopped on the grass.

However, after seeing two women rendering aid to the stricken motorcyclists, he took off in a panic despite the females yelling for him to call an ambulance.

“CCTV shows him at a nearby shopping centre parking adjacent to a wall to conceal the damage,” Judge Yehia said.

“He then took an Uber to Varsity Lakes train station and another train to Brisbane International Airport where he purchased a one way ticket to the United Kingdom.”

Belcher was eventually detained by border control officers.

Scott Rose. Picture: Facebook

The Rose family including mum Cheryl dialled in to witness justice being handed to their son’s killer.

Judge Yehia explained how carefully she had considered every aspect of her judgment.

“In matters such as this judges are asked to perform an impossible equation,” Judge Yehia said.

“No jail term can ever return a loved one and no life can be measured by the punishment metered out to an offender.”

When the sentencing process began last month, a number of victim statements were delivered with Judge Yehia again referenced when handing down her decision.

“The children miss their father and all the activities they used to engage with him,” the judge said.

“The impact on his mother is profound. It has left what she describes as a massive void which will be there until the day she dies.”

Belcher was disqualified from driving for a period of two years.

EARLIER

BY EMILY MACDONALD ON JUNE 16, 2021

The hit and run driver who killed Gold Coast motorcyclist Scott Rose in northern NSW sat with his head bowed as his victim’s mother and mate told a court how their lives had been destroyed.

British ex-pat Graham Stephen Belcher, 52, not only fled the scene after he crashed into Mr Rose and fellow Movie World ride operator Barry Nolan at Tumbulgum in September 2019, but tried to leave the country.

He was almost unrecognisable with long shaggy hair and a beard as he appeared via videolink from the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre in Kempsey.

On Tuesday Sydney District Court heard from Mr Rose’s mum Cheryl who revealed the last time she heard her boy’s voice.

Scott’s parents Graeme and Cheryl Rose.

“On the 1st of September 2019 I rang Scott to wish him a happy Father’s Day. If I had known it would be the last time I spoke to him, I would have never have hung up the phone,” Mrs Rose said.

“On September 2, 2019 my heart was broken and 39 years of my life no longer existed.

“I will never get over not being able to say goodbye to him and being there to hold him at the end of his life as I did at the start.

“I will never hear him call me mum again.

“Losing Scott has left a massive void in my life that will be there until the day I die.

“Ride free, Scott. I love you for eternity, mum.”

After bravely finishing her victim impact statement, Mrs Rose spoke directly to her son’s killer.

“Mr Belcher, Mr Belcher, Mr Belcher! Could you please look at me. Thank you,” Mrs Rose said.

Next up was Mr Nolan who relived the day of the crash.

“The offending driver after making eye contact with me at the give way sign tried to beat us through the intersection,” Mr Nolan said.

He said he was shocked when Belcher drove off but heartened passers-by immediately stepped in to offer aid.

“In those few moments sat on the side of the road I witnessed both the best and worst of human kind,” Mr Nolan said.

Mr Nolan told Judge Dina Yehia due to his injuries he had to take a demotion from his physically demanding role as a theme park ride operator which had meant a pay cut and an ongoing financial impact on his family.

“I think every day about the fact my friend – the father, the son, the uncle, the grandson didn’t get to come home.

“Scott’s loved ones suffer every day from his loss and we can only hope the sentence imposed on his killer can be somewhere near appropriate for the damage he has caused.”

Belcher was apprehended at the Brisbane International Airport and has since pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Judge Yehia reserved her decision and will hand it down on July 6.