Van driver who killed pedestrian, 82, locked up for seven years

May Winn was near the middle of Park Hill in Wednesbury when she was hit by the Vauxhall Combo Luke Holyhead was driving while on a short trip to a cashpoint near his home, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

Experts agreed the victim was crossing at an angle away from the oncoming vehicle with her back partially towards it but she should have been seen the driver.

The 26-year-old painter and decorator from Rachael Gardens in Wednesbury lied about when, and how much, alcohol he had drunk that day and did not explain the tragedy.

He declined to give evidence during the trial which ended with him being unanimously convicted of causing the death of Miss Winn by careless driving at around 6.40pm on November 28 2017.

'No word of remorse'

Judge Nicholas Webb then told the jury: "It is a serious offence to have people driving around the streets of Wolverhampton when over twice the legal limit who have never said a word to anybody about what actually happened.

"All we know is that he lied and until a few moments ago had not uttered a word of remorse."

Mr Benjamin Williams, defending, conceded: "He could have accepted that his driving was below the expected standard and this could have saved the family of the deceased and his own parents from further anguish.

"It is a matter of profound regret that this was not avoided by him pleading guilty."

Judge Webb said while passing sentence: "I do not think this was a momentary loss of attention. The defendant cannot have been properly looking ahead."

Double the limit

The van was estimated to have been travelling at around the 30mph limit on the road that has speed bumps and had just pulled out to overtake a parked vehicle when disaster struck.

Almost 90 minutes after the crash, he blew a reading of 71 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Holyhead said he had drunk no more than three cans of Strongbow cider between 2pm and 3.30pm and nothing after that but Neville Iles, an expert in the effects of drink-driving, said the defendant must have consumed 'significantly' more alcohol because the reading would have been between zero and 21 if the claim was correct.

He estimated the reading would have been 83 with a range of between 77 and 90 - described as a 'significant level of intoxication' - when the fatality happened.

As well as being jailed, Holyhead will be banned from driving for four years after his release.

'Happy and self-sufficient'

Ms Emma Pate, a niece of Ms Winn, who has six brothers and sisters, said that the delay caused by the not guilty plea had added to the intense grief felt by the family of the victim who was described as a happy, self-sufficient woman enjoying good health for her age.

In a statement, the family said: "We wish to thank the police and prosecution team for the work they have put into this investigation.

"People need to realise that when someone decides to drink and drive the consequences of their actions can have a grave impact for totally innocent members of the public."

Sergeant Alan Wood, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, added: "This is a desperately sad situation, in which a young man took the wrong decision to drive a short distance while drunk. His impaired judgement resulted in him taking May’s life and ruining his own.

"There is no excuse for getting behind the wheel and putting the safety of others at risk after drinking or taking drugs. It is illegal and the consequences, as in this case, are devastating.”