A British backpacker has been jailed for four years after she ploughed into a father-of-two while riding an electric scooter drunk in Australia.Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch in Worcestershire, was more than three times over the legal blood alcohol limit when she struck 51-year-old Thanh Phan from behind on a footpath in Perth’s CBD on 31 May 2025.
The structural engineer was walking along the pavement when the boozed-up tourist, travelling at 20-25km/h — well over the 10km/h footpath limit hit him while “zigzagging across the footpath” in a reckless manner. Mr Phan hit his head on the ground and died in hospital days later from a brain bleed.
Viral CCTV footage shared widely on social media captures the moments before the tragedy. It shows Kemp and a friend hiring the e-scooter in the evening. Her friend is seen repeatedly stumbling and falling off the back, while Kemp herself appears heavily intoxicated, bending over unsteadily and struggling with the machine.
The 25-year-old, who was in Australia on a working holiday visa, had spent the afternoon drinking with her friend. After the crash, she reportedly continued drinking at other venues into the early hours.
Mr Phan, a highly respected and dedicated structural engineer, was the emotional, financial and practical backbone of his family. His widow, Ms Li, has been left devastated and overwhelmed. The couple’s two autistic sons, one of whom cannot live independently and relied on his father for daily tasks such as bathing and shopping, are struggling terribly. The eldest does not fully understand that his dad is gone forever.
Kemp pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol. She was sentenced at Perth District Court on 12 December 2025 by Judge Wendy Hughes.
The judge handed down a four-year prison term, backdated to 1 June 2025 for time already served, meaning Kemp will be eligible for parole after just two years. Her driving licence was also disqualified for two years.
In powerful remarks, Judge Hughes told Kemp: “You, Miss Kemp, are the cautionary tale. E-scooters are not toys. You are responsible for that person’s death, and that is the truth for you. You are responsible for the death of a good man.”
The judge detailed the profound impact on the victim’s family, describing how Ms Li is “both physically and emotionally overwhelmed” and finds “being alone at night unbearable.”
The maximum penalty for the offence in Western Australia is 20 years. The case has sparked renewed debate about e-scooter safety, with some councils suspending hire schemes.
The viral video of Kemp’s intoxicated behaviour on the scooter has been viewed millions of times, with many expressing shock at the relatively short sentence for causing a man’s death.
Kemp was described in court as having a low risk of reoffending, but the judge stressed the need for a sentence that sends a clear message about the dangers of riding e-scooters while drunk.
