Oldest woman in Britain to be convicted of dangerous driving, 96, avoids jail after killing OAP in horror crash --[Reported by Umva mag]

A WHEELCHAIR-using 96-year-old who became the oldest woman to be convicted of dangerous driving after killing an OAP has avoided jail.

June Mills was driving in her Vauxhall Corsa when she lost control of the car and mounted a pavement and struck Brenda Joyce, 76.

STEVE ALLEN

Mills also left an 80-year-old injured during the horror in Sefton, Merseyside, on August 2 last year.

She today avoided jail and was instead handed an 18-month suspended sentence for causing death by dangerous driving.

The pensioner, who wore a tartan blanket over her knees in the dock, is believed to be the oldest person in the UK to be convicted of the offence.

She was also handed a five year driving ban and fined £1,500 at Liverpool Crown Court today.

Judge Simon Medland KC said: “On any view and from every angle this case is an utter tragedy.

“Mrs Joyce died, Mrs Ensor was injured, you have lost your good character and are in the dock of Liverpool Crown Court.”

The court was told Brenda and pal Jennifer Ensor were walking back from bridge club when the horror unfolded.

Mills, who uses a wheelchair, lost control of the car when she applied too much pressure on the accelerator.

Tom Gent, defending, said: “The accelerator pedal fell down beneath her foot, she panicked and failed to react to that.

“She accepts by her plea that was driving that was far below standard.”

When she was arrested, Mills told police she felt the pedal had “dropped to the floor” – causing her to shoot forward.

She added: “It all happened very quickly and there were people in front of me but I could not avoid hitting them because the car was going so fast I had no control over it.”

In a victim impact statement, Jennifer told the court she felt a “sense of guilt” at having survived the crash.

She also suffered tendon damage that stopped her from paying golf.

In mitigation, Mr Gent said former careers adviser Mills had surrendered her driving licence following the horror.

He added: said: “This is plainly a dreadfully sad case. Mrs Mills, the defendant, is extremely sorry for what happened.

“The consequences will haunt her forever. She feels great shame and guilt.”

Detective Sergeant Andy Roper from Merseyside Police said today: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Brenda’s family and friends as they continue to come to terms with the tragic events of last August.

“This was a complex and difficult investigation which has led to today’s sentence at court.

“While nothing can bring Brenda back, we hope that this outcome helps their recovery and provides at least a little closure.”

STEVE ALLEN

PA

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