Family of Ludlow woman killed by dangerous driver say sentence handed out an 'insult'

Mary Guilbert was hit by a car as she crossed Livesey Road in Ludlow to go shopping on April 13, 2013.

The 70-year-old former pub landlady suffered and injury to her leg that left her housebound at her home in Ludlow, developed pneumonia and 10 days later died in hospital .

On Tuesday, 21-year-old Holly Frances Farnsworth had been due to stand trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court for causing death by dangerous driving, but changed her plea to guilty.

Judge Peter Barrie said it was a "very sad occasion" and Farnsworth now accepted that, albeit indirectly, Mrs Guilbert's death was a result of her careless driving and 'momentary lapse of attention'.

He said Farnsworth had stopped and tried to help, and had not been aware of the seriousness of Mrs Guilbert's leg injury.

She was given a 12 month community order, told to complete 80 hours' unpaid work and ordered to pay £600 costs - a decision that has stunned Mrs Guilbert's family.

"We feel our mother's life is worth a lot more than a 12 month ban and a few hours' community service," said Suzan Reeves, Mrs Guilbert's daughter, who also lives in Ludlow. "I think anyone would."

Mrs Reeves tracked down and confronted Farnsworth the day after accident, and said she now feels let down the justice system.

"We feel our mother's life is worth a lot more than a 12 month ban and a few hours' community service," she said. "I think anyone would.

"It's an insult to her life. She was worth a lot more.

"We've waited two years for it to come to trial, when the girl should have pleaded guilty in the first place.

"It's been two years waiting for us, only to be told at the last minute that a doctor was willing to say that she was guilty and so she changed her plea.

"They say she stopped and helped her, but what she did was pick my mother up and prop her up on the roadside - she failed to call an ambulance or go into the open shop that was literally two foot away. She failed to call for help.

"I just feel from my point of view that this girl has got away with it lightly. The judge has been far too lenient," she said.

Farnsworth, a hotel worker from Hopesay, near Craven Arms, was 19 at the time of the accident.

She changed her plea to guilty after a number of medical experts had been consulted about Mrs Guilbert's case in preparation for what was supposed to be full trial hearing.

Mrs Reeves said her mother has been healthy and independent before the accident.

"She was local publican for the Raven Inn (on Gravel Hill) in Ludlow for over 20 years, she was well-known in her community and very well liked.

"Just days before we had celebrated her 70th birthday. She was fit and healthy enough to be independent, she walked to the shop every day and she was happy in her life.

"It's tragic. We're just devastated."