A pensioner has been given a suspended jail sentence for causing the death of a Nottinghamshire woman in a crash.
Marilyn Cook, 72, had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of causing the death of Nottinghamshire woman Mary Marshall-Sheriff, 66, by careless driving.
The charge followed a collision at Heckington between an Audi Q3 driven by Cook and Mrs Marshall-Sheriff’s car just before 6.30pm on August 9 2018.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Cook was driving west when she crossed in to the opposite carriageway and collided nearly head-on with a car being driven by Mrs Marshall-Sheriff who was driving from her Nottinghamshire home to visit her partner at a caravan in Skegness.
Phil Howes, prosecuting, said the only viable option was that Cook fell asleep as she followed her own husband’s camper van as they returned to West Yorkshire.
Mr Howes told the court: “The deceased’s car had no time to take avoiding action.”
Mrs Marshall-Sheriff died at the scene after suffering multiple injuries and Mrs Cook was taken to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham with life-changing injuries after being cut from her own car.
During the interview Cook could provide no explanation for the collision but said she felt “dreadful” for the victim and her family.
One witness described seeing a swerve from Cook’s car a mile and half before the collision where she narrowly avoided a lorry parked in a lay-by.
A victim impact statement revealed the death of Mary Marshall-Sheriff had a “devastating” impact on her partner and grandchildren.
The court heard Cook had no previous convictions and was remorseful, thinking about the collision every day and night.
In mitigation, the court was told Cook could not recall feeling tired and had stopped during her journey.
Passing sentence, Judge Stephen Coupland told Cook the most likely explanation for the collision was that she fell asleep.
“This case is a terrible reminder to anyone who uses the roads that tiredness kills,” Judge Coupland said.
But the judge added he did not think it was in the public interest to jail her.
“The knowledge of what you did will be your punishment. Your house will be your prison,” the judge said.
Cook, of Scott Green Crescent, Gildersome, Leeds, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
She was also banned from driving for three years.
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The 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman arrested in the murder probe of an 11-year-old boy in Lincoln have both been released on police bail, without any charges.
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder and the woman on suspicion of manslaughter after an incident at a house on Geneva Street on St Giles in Lincoln.
Police were called to the house at 10pm on Friday night, January 22.
The 11-year-old boy was found unwell at the scene and was taken to hospital for treatment.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
At the time Lincolnshire Police said the death was unexplained and it was treated as murder.
The man and the woman arrested at the weekend were released on police bail on Monday evening.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement on Monday night:
“Once again, we’d like to remind people that this is an active investigation and that an 11-year-old boy has sadly lost his life.
“Speculative comments are not only deeply upsetting to those involved but can potentially undermine our investigation.
“If you have any information that can help, call 101 or email [email protected] quoting incident 472 of January 22.”
Ten people from Boston have been given fines for breaching COVID-19 regulations by driving dangerously in supermarket car parks.
Officers were called after three separate reports of dangerous driving in the car parks of Lidl and Tesco in Wyberton Fen, as well as on Marsh Lane Industrial Estate in Boston.
All three incidents took place and were reported to police between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, January 24, though it is unsure if they were connected at all.
When officers arrived, the drivers were seen doing donut manoeuvres and racing in the snow.
A total of 10 people were given £200 fines for breaking lockdown guidelines, but this will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, due to all being first time offenders.
As well as the COVID-19 fines, two of the vehicles were also seized as a result of being uninsured, with drivers reported.
A traffic offence report was also submitted after one driver was seen to be driving not just dangerously but out of control.
Inspector Fran Harrod of Lincolnshire Police said: “We would like to thank the public for bringing these incidents of dangerous driving to our attention.
“This is not only extremely dangerous to those taking part but to others in these areas.
“While we continue to engage and explain with the public, this was a blatant breach of the restrictions which will not be tolerated.”
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