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Widow-killing driver banned for a decade

The dangers of drink-driving and having no car insurance have been highlighted at Liverpool Crown Court, where a 26-year-old has been sentenced to four years in prison and banned for ten years.

James Clayton had already been banned from driving 15 times when he took a hedonistic cocktail of cannabis, heroin and lager and stole a Ford Escort on January 2nd 2006. He then drove at speeds of more than 70mph through Liverpool as he attempted to shake off pursuing police.

Tragedy soon happened, however, and the intoxicated thief lost control of the car, mounted the pavement and struck a frail 84-year-old woman, sending her spinning into the air. The old lady, a widow named Molly Anderson, later died in hospital, and a witness described the moment she was hit, saying, "Mrs Anderson did not stand a chance and she watched in horror as she was hit by the Ford Escort.

"She was flung into the air and on landing she rolled under a parked car."

Clayton pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, causing death by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving with no car insurance.

Jailing the killer, Judge Henry Globe QC said, "Your behaviour was irresponsible. You failed to remain at the scene, you caused the damage, the injury and the death while attempting to avoid detection and detention."

James Clayton will be 36 before his driving ban is lifted, too old to take advantage of the cheap prices offered by specialist young driver car insurance firms, and with a criminal record of such horrendous infamy, the majority of motor insurance firms would be likely to choose not to cover him anyway.