Millionaire Qatari businessman, 42, who killed pedestrian, 66, while driving his £250,000 purple Rolls-Royce Wraith at more than 52mph on Hyde Park Corner avoids jail

• Charles Roberts, 66, was struck by Al-Thani’s Rolls-Royce on Hyde Park Corner 
• The retired Network Rail signal manager died at the scene of the crash 
• Qatari businessman Al-Thani told police he hadn’t seen Mr Roberts at the lights
• Old Bailey heard he was driving his purple Rolls Royce at more than 52mph
• Earlier today Al-Thani pled guilty to causing death by careless driving
• Also handed eight-month suspended sentence and banned from driving for three years

A businessman has avoid being jailed after he admitted mowing down a pedestrian with a £250,000 purple Rolls-Royce near Buckingham Palace.

Qatari Hassan Nasser Al-Thani, 42, struck Charles Roberts with his Rolls-Royce Wraith while driving at more than 52mph on August 22 2019.

The 66-year-old died at the scene of the crash on Hyde Park Corner.

On Tuesday, Al-Thani appeared at the Old Bailey and pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

He was later handed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to pay £25,000. The judge also banned him from driving in the UK for three years.

The defendant, from Prince of Wales Terrace, Kensington, west London, had previously denied the charge when he appeared by video-link from Qatar.

Qatari Hassan Nasser Al-Thani, 42, has pled guilty to causing death by careless driving after he hit pedestrian Charles Roberts at more than 52mph while driving past Hyde Park Corner

The court heard how Al-Thani was the registered owner of the Rolls Royce with Qatari number plates, which has since been sold.

The defendant had been driving from Piccadilly accompanied by a friend when he collided with Mr Roberts, a retired Network Rail signalling manager from Harpenden, Hertfordshire who had been walking near Hyde Park.

‘Mr Al-Thani had been driving a Rolls Royce Wraith with Qatari number plates of which he was the owner,’ prosecutor Philip McGhee told the Old Bailey.

‘As Mr Roberts crossed that road, he was hit by Mr Al-Thani’s car.

‘Police arrived very shortly at the scene and diverted the traffic away, and Mr Al-Thani was approached by a police constable.’

Al-Thani had been driving from Piccadilly accompanied by a friend when he collided with Mr Roberts (pictured), a retired Network Rail signalling manager from Harpenden, Hertfordshire who had been walking near Hyde Par 

Al-Thani’s purple Rolls-Royce car was seen inside the cordon on Hyde Park Corner following the crash in August 2019

Mr McGhee said the victim’s cause of death was traumatic head injury, and that Mr Roberts would have lost consciousness almost immediately.

In the crash, the vehicle’s windscreen was smashed and front headlight damaged.

Al-Thani had called 999 and told police at the scene that he had not seen the pedestrian, having moved off when traffic lights had turned green.

The court heard that he was driving at 52 to 54 miles per hour, nearly ‘twice’ the 30mph speed limit. 

The court heard he was ‘incredulous’ that anyone would cross the road there.

The court heard that Al-Thani was driving at 52 to 54 miles per hour, nearly ‘twice’ the 30mph speed limit

The location of the crash involving the Rolls Royce at Hyde Park Corner in central London 

The collision was captured on CCTV cameras, including the moment of impact.

Later in a prepared statement, Al-Thani expressed sadness at the death and offered his condolences to Mr Roberts’ family and friends.

He said he was a very careful driver and it was the first collision he had been involved in.

A statement read on behalf of the victim’s family outlined the devastation of Mr Roberts’ brother.

The family said: ‘It is a relief to him the driver responsible is to be held to account.’

The Common Serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks said he was ‘satisfied’ that had Al-Thani been driving ‘in or around’ the speed limit Mr Robert’s death would have been avoided.

‘I accept, and this is important, that your excessive speed and carelessness occurred only over a matter of a few seconds.

‘Weather conditions were fine and visibility was good in what was a straight road.

‘You were telling the police, incorrectly, that you had moved slowly from the lights when suddenly and without warning someone ran out in front of the car.

‘The evidence tells a different story.

‘I note that even now you told the author of the pre-sentence report that it was difficult to say whether you were speeding and that you didn’t think you were, in any event there is not much room to go over the speed limit.

‘It seems to me that even now you are in denial and have sought to minimise the seriousness of the manner of your driving,’ said the judge. 

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