A 96-year-old woman has been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence for causing the death of a pedestrian in a car accident, SKy News reports.
June Mills, from Ainsdale on Merseyside, pleaded guilty to causing the death of 76-year-old Brenda Joyce by dangerous driving in Formby last August.
The incident occurred when Mills’ Vauxhall Corsa mounted the pavement, hitting Joyce and another pedestrian, 80-year-old Jennifer Ensor, who sustained minor injuries.
Mills, believed to be one of the oldest individuals in the UK convicted of death by dangerous driving, expressed deep remorse for the incident.
The court heard that Mills had mistakenly applied too much accelerator, causing her vehicle to mount the curb. She surrendered her driving license after the crash and has been unable to drive since.
Despite her age and the severity of the incident, Judge Simon Medland KC decided to impose a suspended sentence, citing the pre-sentence reports, character references, and “plain common sense.” He argued that an immediate prison sentence would not be a just outcome in this case.
“On any view and from every angle this case is an utter tragedy,” Judge Medland said.
Mills was also ordered to pay a £1,500 fine, £500 in prosecution costs, and was disqualified from driving for five years.
