A Burton man has been fined £2,000 by Leicester Magistrates following an incident near Ashby 15 months ago in which a young father died.

Brandon Beesla, 27, was charged with using a motor vehicle in a condition likely to cause danger of injury.

Magistrates today issued a £2,000 fine, £800 surcharge, £85 court costs, a one-year driving ban

The incident took place in December 2023, involving the death of a man, Tommy Hunter, from Newhall near Swadlincote, who was found dead on the other side of a bush in the field by the road between Ashby and Boundary on December 11.

Tommy Hunter. Photo from Derbyshire Constabulary

He had already been reported missing when he failed to return from a night out.

His family had made a series of appeals for the driver of a vehicle to come forward.

A man was arrested the next day on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, but was released under investigation.

Brandon Beesla, 27, of Hillsdale Road in Burton-upon-Trent, was charged last year with failing to stop after a road accident and driving a motor vehicle, a Pontiac Firebird, in a condition likely to cause danger of injury.

But the failing to stop charge - which can carry a prison sentence - was dropped.

Beesla admitted the other offence, which carried a fine.

An initial court appearance had been set for last June.