Man convicted after death of Edinburgh agency chef

A man has been convicted in court following the death of an agency chef in Edinburgh earlier this year.

Declan Mayes, 21, (pictured) pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving after crashing into chef Lionel Simenya in a stolen Peugeot 207 on 7 March 2019.

Passers-by called emergency services at 3:50am but Simenya was later pronounced dead at the scene. Mayes was apprehended on the 16 March, having abandoned the vehicle and fled after the incident.

Simenya had been working as an agency chef at a nearby restaurant at the time. In September last year he won recognition from his agency, Blue Arrow Recruitment, for "always picking up extra shifts, always get[ting] great feedback from all our clients" and working "incredibly hard".

Detective Inspector Stuart Alexander from Edinburgh Police's Major Investigation Team said: "Lionel Simenya had moved to the UK a number of years ago from his native Burundi and was working in Edinburgh as a chef when his life was so tragically cut short.

"This was a complex inquiry as we worked to ascertain what happened that night and we hope that Lionel's family and friends now have some of the answers to how their loved one died and our thoughts remain with them at this time.

"By striking Lionel and leaving the scene, Declan Mayes showed complete disregard for Lionel's life and I welcome today's conviction.

"I'd like to thank the local community and members of the public who assisted officers whilst our investigation was ongoing."

Mayes has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on 14 August.