A lying couple who tried to cover up a fatal crash which killed a biker have both been handed jail sentences.

Learner driver Stuart Powell, 34, ploughed into a motorcycle killing the rider and leaving his friend Adam Davies severely injured.

But as victim Ryan Rudden, 26, lay dying in the road, father-of-four Powell called his wife Carly, 36, who then lied to police claiming her car had been stolen.

Their lies resulted in two innocent people being arrested and held in custody for 12 hours as officers hunted the driver.

Now the devious couple, of Miller Close, Kemsley, have been given prison sentences after admitting they tried to pervert the course of justice.

Stuart Powell, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was jailed for five years and 10 months and banned from driving for 119 months.

Carly was told she would have been jailed for eight months, but the judge was told an immediate sentence could result in her not receiving treatment for her MS.

Instead, the sentence was suspended for two years.

But as she sat in the dock waiting to be released someone in the public gallery shouted: “I hope you suffer Carly. I hope you suffer.”

Judge Julian Smith said Stuart Powell had been distracted at the time of the collision and had been using his phone around the time of the crash.

After leaving the scene he called his wife and she called the police to falsely report her car had been stolen.

Prosecutor Gregory Wedge told Maidstone Crown Court how the incident happened on May 12, 2021, on the B2005 Swale Way at Kemsley, near the Milton Creek Fishing Lake.

He said Powell – who was at the wheel of his wife’s blue Citroen C4 – had been driving uninsured and had never passed a driving test.

After fishing, Powell left the lakes and drove up the access road which led to the main road, where he began to pull out and turn right onto Swale Way.

“Mr Rudden was heading towards Kemsley when his black Honda collided with the Citroen,” Mr Wedge explained.

“It is submitted that Powell was on his phone at or around the time of the collision.

“Not only does the communications data show a call being made by Powell to his cousin at 21:44, but Mr Davies saw the light of a mobile phone coming from within the car at the time, ” he added.

A passing PCSO stopped to help and told a man, believed to be Powell: “Stay where you are,” but he then disappeared from the scene.

Within minutes police received a 999 call from Carly Powell to report her vehicle stolen.

Police later went to the home of the Powells when Stuart attempted to hide his mobile phone after claiming he had lost it on the day of the crash.

He told police: “Basically I was doing a bit of fishing. I came out and a motorbike hit me.

“I’m so scared I just ran away. I spoke to the geezer and I just ran away. I was pulling out and he come straight into me. He was speeding up and down all night.”

Mr Rudden, from Whitstable, had suffered head and severe chest injuries, spine and stomach injuries.

Mr Davies was treated for a fractured knee, left wrist and injuries to his cheek, forehead and jaw.

The court heard how MS sufferer Carly Powell claimed her husband had been working late and had no driving licence.

But Mr Wedge said that Powell did have a provisional licence, which had been suspended by magistrates under the “totting up” provisions.

While one officer was looking at Carly’s mobile phone, she noticed a contact on the phone called “D***head”, which turned out to be her partner’s mobile number.

He handed himself in to police the following day but the couple still told lies.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable David Holmes of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Stuart Powell should never have been behind the wheel, let alone driving and using his mobile phone.

“His actions caused a man to lose his life leaving his family to mourn the loss of their son, brother and uncle.

“Collectively the Powells lied to Kent Police and sought to distance themselves from any involvement or blame, claiming the car had been stolen, when in fact Stuart was wholly responsible.

“Nothing can bring back the victim, but I hope this sentence can offer some justice and help the family to gain some closure.”