British backpacker jailed after drunk e-scooter crash killed father-of-two

A 25-year-old British backpacker has been sentenced to four years in prison after a fatal collision with a father-of-two while riding an electric scooter in Perth, Western Australia.

Alicia Kemp, from Redditch, Worcestershire, appeared at Perth District Court on Friday, where she pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol.

Judge Wendy Hughes handed down a four-year sentence, backdated to June 2025 for time served, with a non-parole period of two years.

Kemp could be eligible for release in mid-2027, and her driver's licence has been suspended for two years.

She was over the legal blood alcohol limit when she struck 51-year-old Thanh Phan on 31 May. Mr Phan later died in hospital from a brain bleed.

Kemp and a passenger on the e-scooter sustained minor injuries.

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The incident has sparked a national debate about e-scooter safety, prompting Perth and several surrounding councils to suspend hire services indefinitely.

In a statement, Mr Phan's family described him as a "beloved husband, father-of-two and dear friend".

Dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in Western Australia.

E-scooter riders in the state must be over 16, wear a helmet, carry no passengers, and remain sober while riding.