Crown court to consider fatal crash case

Stuart Cruickshank, 50, of St Marys Road, Liss, is charged with dangerous driving and causing death by dangerous driving.

He appeared in front of Crawley magistrates on Monday, and the case was transferred to crown court.

Cruickshank was released on unconditional bail until May 24, when he will be due to enter pleas at Lewes Crown Court.

The crash, near Bury Hill on May 4, 2011, cost the life of Damon Gravatt, 36, from Pulborough. Mr Gravatt was taken to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, but died from his injuries.

Mr Gravatt was a teacher at Southway Primary School in Bognor Regis, and had previously taught at Storrington First School.

Paying tribute, his father Ian described him as a ‘huge gentle giant’ with a rare talent for playing musical instruments.

He also had a gift for amateur dramatics, and for writing plays and stories for children.

A message from the headteacher at Southway called him ‘a truly great teacher, well respected and liked by his colleagues and the children’.

Ian Gravatt said Damon would have valued that achievement above all others and ‘will sleep peacefully knowing his job had been well done’.