Tributes to Lincoln mum who died after pothole road crash

A Lincolnshire lorry driver who was jailed for causing a crash in which a charity worker died has failed in a bid to reduce his driving ban.

Dorin-Silviu Buinea, 35, was jailed for 16 months in December 2019 after he admitted causing the death of Katie Ablewhite, 37, by careless driving.

Her work colleague, Dawn Crisp, who was driving the car in which both women were travelling, also suffered life changing injuries in the collision on the A52 at Bicker.

Buinea was also banned from driving for two years and eight months by Judge Stephen Coupland in addition to his jail sentence.

But the former HGV driver made an application for the early return of his driving licence during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court this week.

The court heard Buinea, who has now completed his prison sentence, had found new employment which required him to make a nine mile bike ride to work in all weather conditions.

However Judge John Pini QC rejected the application, telling Buinea he was conscious of the long lasting impact his driving had on both his victims and their relatives.

The judge also told Buinea that he did not regard his cycle journey as too much of a hardship for a man of his age.

Lincoln Crown Court previously heard how Buinea was driving along the A52 heading for his then firm’s depot at Donington when he struck a lorry from behind as the other vehicle waited to turn right.

His lorry then went into the path of a car driven by Dawn Crisp in which her work colleague Katie Ablewhite was a passenger. The women were on their way to Boston for work.

Jonathan Dunne, prosecuting, said that the lorry initially hit by Buinea’s vehicle was in the middle of the road waiting to turn right with its brake lights and indicator on.

Buinea had eight seconds to see the brake lights ahead of him and seven seconds to see the indicator but continued into the back of the vehicle.

The front of his lorry then crossed into the opposite carriageway giving Dawn Crisp no chance of avoiding a collision.

Miss Crisp had started her journey in Grantham when she had given a lift to her work colleague, Kate Ablewhite, and was travelling towards Boston.

Following the collision Katie Ablewhite, 37, was taken to hospital but never regained consciousness and her life support machine was switched off ten days later on Christmas Eve. Her death was due to chest injuries and she also had minor brain injuries.

Dawn Crisp suffered life-changing injuries and underwent abdominal surgery. One of her knees was shattered and she suffered fractures to her thigh and wrist. She spent seven weeks in intensive care and a year later was still seriously affected by her injuries.

Buinea, 35, then of Holbeach Terrace, Haven Village, Boston, admitted a charge of causing death by careless driving as a result of the collision on the A52 at Bicker on December 14 2018. In addition to being jailed he was banned from driving for two years and eight months.

Judge Steven Coupland, passing sentence, described the fatal collision as “utterly avoidable”.

He said: “There is no alternative to an immediate custodial sentence. Dawn Crisp had no chance of avoiding a collision.”

Neil Sands, mitigating for Buinea at the sentencing hearing, said: “There are no words in the English language or any other language that can adequately communicate the degree of regret and remorse that Mr Buinea feels. He is deeply sorry for what has happened.

“The only way to describe what happened is that his eyes saw the brake lights and it took his brain seven seconds to process what he had seen.”

A woman from Scunthorpe has been given a suspended prison sentence after throwing meat laced with poison over her fence, which resulted in the death of a beloved family dog.

Susan Foster, 60, then of Hazel Avenue Scunthorpe, appeared before Grimsby Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, November 24 for sentencing, following a trial earlier that month.

During the trial, she was found guilty of an act of poisoning meat and throwing it into her neighbour’s garden, which led to a German Shepherd called Roxy consuming it and tragically dying.

She was also found guilty of causing a drug or substance to be taken, knowing it to be poisonous. Foster was handed a 26-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and orders to carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The 60-year-old was also disqualified from keeping all animals for 12 months, and ordered to pay £2,040 in court costs, £627 compensation to Roxy’s owners and a £120 victim surcharge.

The incident took place in June 2020 and only came to light once Roxy fell ill and became lethargic, as she was seen vomiting and not eating food properly.

After taking her to a vet, Roxy was given intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics, but her condition continued to worsen and a prognosis was considered to be very poor, causing Roxy to be put to sleep on humane grounds.

Meat samples from the item consumed by Roxy were preserved and analysed, and it was found that the presence of antifreeze and rodenticide was inside.

Inspector Bradshaw at the RSPCA was given footage which showed items coming over the fence into Roxy’s owner’s property, and it was also discovered that the defendant interfered with her neighbour’s security camera.

RSPCA Bradshaw, said: “This was an incredibly sad case – Roxy was a beloved pet – and her owners were heartbroken by their loss.

“This act caused Roxy an immense amount of pain and suffering, and deteriorating clinical signs meant this poor dog ended up losing her life as a result.”

The group behind the annual Lincoln Medieval Market have promised they will return to the city, despite a heartbreaking break-in and burglary at the city’s oldest church.

As reported previously, traders from the Travelling Historical Market, run alongside the Lincoln Christmas Market, had been sleeping in St Mary le Wigford Church on High Street on the night of Saturday, December 4th when they were disturbed by the criminal.

The thief had helped themselves to handmade items from the stalls, and some of the artists’ takings, before their presence woke frightened stallholders.

Bravely, the traders gave chase, but sadly the perpetrator got away.

Writer Joanne Major, who was selling copies of her books at the event, told The Lincolnite: “Some of the traders were sleeping in the church and were woken by the thief shining a light looking for more to steal. Obviously that terrified them.

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

“The traders have had a bad couple of years with events been cancelled due to Covid and many were at Ludlow Medieval Fayre last weekend where tents and stock got destroyed in Storm Arwen.”

To add to the independent group’s misfortune, costumed volunteer Tom Kay was also targeted by thieves.

Stallholders wore traditional Medieval dress | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Tom had travelled from Barnsley to work at the market dressed as a knight, promoting the market and letting children have their picture taken with him.

Joanne said: “He’d parked his car in the car park off King St overnight while he stayed in St Mary’s Guildhall with the traders there. He discovered that someone had stolen his catalytic converter.”

Both incidents have been reported to police.

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Traders thanked those who turned out to support the event on the last day of market weekend, many of whom had seen the news of the break-in on The Lincolnite.

Joanne added: “We had a lot of people turn up who had seen it, and who’d come out to support the market because of it so it was a big help.

“We haven’t heard anything else about the thefts, and while they were unpleasant, they certainly haven’t put us off. The Medieval Market will definitely return next year, hopefully even bigger and better.”

The event was spread across the church and St Mary’s Guildhall, a genuine Medieval building and one of the city’s oldest.

“We’ll be back in the same location as we like the fact that we’re able to bring the Christmas Market experience down to the lower High Street, and showcase the history of that area of the city. So many locals came into the Guildhall saying that they’d always wanted to see inside, and were amazed with what they found.

“We might not be right in the centre of the main market, but we think it’s worth the effort to find us!”

The Lincolnite has contacted Lincolnshire Police for an update on the investigation.