Driver, 95, spared jail after killing dog walker outside Tesco Express | UK | News

A 95-year-old woman thought to be Britain’s oldest female killer driver has escaped prison after fatally hitting a pensioner while trying to park in a disabled car park.

Joan Barwick was maneuvering her Vauxhall Corsa into the forecourt of the petrol station when she collided with grandmother Linda Wareham, 78, who was walking her dog on April 17 last year. The court heard Ms Wareham succumbed to “catastrophic head injuries” in hospital the following day after the crash in Hagley Road, Stourbridge, West Midlands, at around 4pm.

Joan, of Wollescote, West Midlands, previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday, April 24.

Joan, who attended court today wearing a purple cardigan, a floral top and a black walking stick, was also banned from driving for ten years. The court was told Joan, then 94, “didn’t look ahead” when she spotted a disabled parking space outside Tesco Express.

Prosecutor Tim Harrington said: “He was looking at the empty disabled parking space, not at what was in front of him. “He didn’t see Miss Wareham; he had seven seconds to see her but he didn’t.

Mr. Harrington stated that Joan’s speed decreased to approximately 10 mph and she turned directly into the garage.”

Mr Harrington said Joan reduced her speed to about 10mph and returned directly to the garage. He added: “If he had seen Miss Wareham he might have stopped and that’s the tragedy of this case.” Sentencing Judge Michael Chambers KC described the collision as a “momentary loss of concentration”. He said: “As you were returning to the forecourt of the petrol station you struck Miss Wareham, who was walking with her dog on the pavement past that entrance. You struck her with your vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. The incident was recorded on CCTV and is clearly visible.”

“On your return she received a fatal blow. I am satisfied that Miss Wareham was entirely innocent. It was her right to wait for you to stop and to respect her right of way on the pavement. Miss Wareham lived a good life and could have lived much longer. This was a momentary failure to pay attention to where you were driving.”

“The Crown accepts that you did not exercise due care as you should have and dangerously collided with a passerby. You were not simply looking ahead, you were instead looking for an available parking space. If you had seen it, you would have had seven seconds with time to stop. Yet you continued on. The danger is based on an error of judgment as to what was in front of you.” The court was told the pensioner had an “impeccable driving record”, had no previous convictions and was still deemed fit to drive. The judge said: “You have a good driving history. The Crown accepts that you re-applied for a license in January, prior to this offence, your application was accepted and your eyesight was deemed suitable to continue driving.

“I also accept that you are truly remorseful. In this case, I must also take into account the importance of age, you are now 95 years old. It is clear that an immediate sentence would have a significant impact on you.

“There is strong personal mitigation. At least you must have no previous convictions at the age of 95, show remorse, plead guilty at the earliest opportunity and live a good and productive life. For all these reasons, I am satisfied that the sentence can be suspended.”