A hushed court heard a moving statement from a grieving daughter whose father died because of another motorist’s dangerous driving.

In her intensely moving victim impact statement, the woman used the word “hero” to describe her 82-year-old father David Bennell, a retired company boss, who was fit, healthy and adored by his family.

He died after a crash on the A66 near Keswick on April 29 last year that was caused by 25-year-old Calum Wilkinson.

He had denied causing the pensioner’s death by driving dangerously but was convicted after a three-day trial at Carlisle Crown Court.

Judge Peter Davies jailed him for two and a half years after the packed courtroom heard the poignant words of Mr Bennell’s daughter, Catherine Little. She said that all her family wanted from the hearing was justice.

Prosecutor Richard Howarth had earlier described how witnesses had seen Wilkinson, of Main Road, Flimby, driving his Volkswagen Bora in the minutes before the crash at 4.44pm.

He joined the A66 near Embleton in a “swift, and sweeping motion” without stopping. He immediately overtook another car.

At the time, the road was busy with all manner of traffic, including cars pulling caravans, motorhomes and lorries, said Mr Howarth.

As he drove eastwards, towards a sweeping bend, Wilkinson pulled out and crossed the solid white lines in an attempt to overtake a line of traffic, colliding head-on with the Toyota Avensis being driven in the opposite direction by Mr Bennell.

Both drivers were injured, the pensioner being airlifted to The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. He died there on May 1.

In her statement, Mr Bennell's daughter Catherine Little told how after completing his national service her father had studied for a degree in electrical engineering before doing an apprenticeship, and working his way up to be managing director of an electrical instruments firm.


David Bennell He and his wife retired to Braithwaite, near Keswick, and after her death he continued to follow his passion for cycling and also took on the role of treasurer for the Mothers’ Union.

“My son Lee is their only grandchild,” she said. “And my dad totally worshipped him.”

With 60 years’ experience as a driver, he was fit and healthy before the accident, which left him with numerous injuries, including a broken neck.

She said: “It’s hard to put into words exactly how my family feel. There will never be enough words to tell you how devastated we all are by what’s happened.”

She said she could have accepted it more readily had he died naturally. But he had many more years of life in him.

Mrs Little said the trial had meant she was not able to grieve properly for her father, adding: “My dad was a hero. He was very special and one of a kind. He is totally missed and will continue to be. We hope that justice is done.”

Gerard Doran, for Wilkinson, said the case was tragic in every respect.

A man of good character, Wilkinson had a sound employment history and had led a blemish-free life. He himself had been seriously injured in the crash.

The barrister added: “The collision is difficult to explain. There was no evidence of alcohol or drugs; no evidence of speed; no evidence of mobile phone use.”

The defendant also admitted two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images on his phone. Mr Doran said these were sent to the defendant by a friend as a prank.

Passing sentence, Judge Davies told Wilkinson: “This was an extremely dangerous manoeuvre which you attempted, with catastrophic consequences.”

He also disqualified Wilkinson from driving for two years.

Sergeant Lee Hill, who investigated the tragedy, said: “Wilkinson knew the route very well. It was his daily commute and in interview he said he was not hurrying to make an appointment.

“Yet he made the decision to drive in a way that put his own life and the lives of other road users at risk.

“Ultimately, Wilkinson’s decision to overtake traffic when he was unsighted, carrying out a manoeuvre which, from the road markings, he would have known was clearly prohibited, has cost Mr Bennell his life.”