Seven in court over crash that killed dad of three

Six men and a woman, charged in connection with a fatal crash in which a father of three died, have appeared in court.

Sean Burlton, 28, died when the car he was a passenger in overturned in a ditch full of water on Counter Drain Drove, Tongue End, Lincolnshire, on 24 November 2023.

Two men are accused of manslaughter and causing death by dangerous driving in relation to Burlton, and all seven defendants are accused of conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm to another man.

Judge Simon Hirst has listed the case for a provisional trial date at Lincoln Crown Court beginning on 1 September.

The crash involved a grey Ford Focus, a black Vauxhall Insignia and a grey Volkswagen Touran.

Bailey Fitzgerald, 29, of Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck and Sam Johnson, 26, of Johnson Avenue, Spalding, are accused of manslaughter, causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm.

Scott Biggs, 33, of Spalding Common, Spalding, is accused of conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm.

None of the charges were put to the three defendants during the hearing.

Sam Clift, 35, of Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck, Josh Copnell, 22, of Rose Lane, Pinchbeck, Max Prior, 21, of London Road, Spalding, Vanessa Gratton, 31, of West Parade, Spalding all entered not guilty pleas to a charge of conspiracy to commit actual bodily harm.

Judge Hirst granted all seven defendants bail until a further hearing on 10 April.

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