Joan Barwick was turning her Vauxhall Corsa into a petrol station forecourt when she ploughed into grandmother Linda Wareham, 78, who was out walking her dog on April 17 last year
Joan Barwick, arriving at Wolverhampton Crown Court (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
A 95-year-old woman believed to be Britain’s oldest female killer driver has been spared jail after running over a pensioner while trying to park in a disabled space.
Joan Barwick was turning her Vauxhall Corsa into a petrol station forecourt when she ploughed into grandmother Linda Wareham, 78, who was out walking her dog on April 17 last year. A court heard Mrs Wareham died in hospital the following day from “catastrophic head injuries” sustained in the accident, which happened at around 4pm on Hagley Road, Stourbridge, West Mids.
Joan, of Wollescote, West Mids., previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was handed a 16 month suspended sentence at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday April 24.
Police at the scene after the incident(Image: Newsquest / SWNS)
Joan, who appeared in court today wearing a purple cardigan, a flowery top and carrying a black cane, was also disqualified from driving for 10 years. The court heard Joan, who was 94 at the time, “had not been looking in front of her” after spotting a disabled parking space outside a Tesco Express.
Tim Harrington, prosecuting, said: “She was looking not at what was in front of her but at a disabled parking space that was free. She did not see Mrs Wareham – she had seven seconds to see her but did not.
Mr Harrington said Joan had slowed to around 10mph and was turning right into the garage.” He added: “If she seen Mrs Wareham she would have been able to stop and that is the tragedy of this case.”
Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC described the accident as a “momentary failure” of concentration. He said: “Whilst you were turning into a petrol station forecourt you struck Mrs Wareham who was walking with her dog along the pavement which would’ve crossed that entrance. You struck her with your vehicle and she would’ve suffered fatal injuries. The incident is recorded on CCTV and is graphic.
Joan had an “unblemished driving record”, no previous convictions and was still considered fit to drive. (Image: West Midlands Police / SWNS)
“As you turned she was fatally hit. I am satisfied that Mrs Wareham is entirely blameless. She was entitled to expect you to stop and respect that she had right of way on the pavement. Mrs Wareham had lived a fine life and could’ve lived significantly longer. This was a momentary failure to keep a proper lookout to where you were driving.
“The crown accepts that you were not paying proper attention as you should’ve done and drove dangerously into a passing person who had the right of way. You were simply not looking in front of you, instead looking towards an available parking place. You had seven seconds in which, had you seen her, had time to stop. Yet you drove on. The dangerousness is put on the basis of an error of judgement of what was in front of you.”
The court heard the pensioner had an “unblemished driving record”, no previous convictions and was still considered fit to drive. The judge added: “You have a good driving record. The crown accept that in January prior to this offence you reapplied for your license, it was accepted and your eyesight was deemed suitable to keep on driving.
“I also accept that you have genuine remorse. I need to consider the relevance of age in this case, you are now 95-years-old. It’s obvious an immediate sentence would have a significant impact upon you.
“There is strong personal mitigation. Not least that you have no previous convictions at the age of 95, you have shown remorse, have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and have lived a good and productive life. For all those reasons I am persuaded that the sentence can be suspended.”