Speeding motorist jailed for 45 months for killing pensioner

Stephen Farragher was on his way home from his job at Lidl, in Maryport, when he ploughed into 79-year-old Audrey Tunstall, and her friend, 36-year-old Natalli Fisher, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The older woman died a short time later from her injuries, while Ms Fisher suffered injuries so severe that she had to spend several months in hospital.

The court heard that in the seconds before the accident, Farragher, 47, was driving at 57mph in a 40mph zone on the A596 near to Dunmail Park shopping centre.

At the time he was not wearing his glasses, even though it was a condition of his driving licence, the court heard.

At an earlier hearing, Farragher, of Thirlmere Avenue, Workington, had admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Paul Cummings told the court that the accident happened at 7.20pm on October 22 last year, as the defendant was driving his Volkswagen Passat on the A596 through a section of road bordered with bus shelters and pavements.

The prosecutor explained that Ms Fisher and her friend had travelled by bus to a local NHS medical centre, because the pensioner had been feeling unwell.

Afterwards, they took a bus to Dunmail Park, probably so that the pensioner could get her prescription medication from a pharmacy at the shopping centre.

The accident happened in darkness as the two women were crossing the road.

The prosecutor accepted there was an alternative crossing point on the road nearby, in the form of a central traffic island.

CCTV of the tragedy showed the defendant applied his brakes just before the collision, slowing his speed to about 50mph at the moment of impact.

Mr Cummings confirmed the defendant had not been drinking, nor was he using a mobile phone.

He was simply on his way home from his job as an assistant manager at the Lidl supermarket, driving too fast.

"The defendant said he hadn't seen anyone until it was too late," said Mr Cummings.

A man of previous good character, Farragher had an unblemished 27 year driving career until that point.

Ms Fisher suffered multiple injuries, including compound fractures, a punctured lung, and a head injury which has caused her memory problems.

She was in a coma for 11 days and in hospital for seven months.

The court heard that since the accident Miss Fisher has had to learn again how to speak, read, and eat, and she will never be able to live independently.

In his police interview, Farragher agreed he should have been wearing his glasses at the time, but the judge accepted this made no material difference to the accident, which was caused by the defendant's speed.

"He said he only used them when he needed to read road signs in places that he was not used to," said Mr Cummings.

Michael Rawlings, for Farragher, said the defendant could not be sorrier than he was for the tragedy. Indeed, said the barrister, he was more concerned for the plight of the victims and their families than himself.

A married man, with two children, Farragher had faced having to explain that he may not be able to go home for some time.

On the day of the accident, said Mr Cummings, Farragher was not meant to be in work, but had volunteered after a colleague had called in sick.

"That typifies the man he is," said the barrister. "He's a humble, hard-working, family man."

The barrister added that the defendant had suffered post traumatic stress following the accident and had found the whole experience very difficult.

Mr Rawlings added: "This is a tragedy for all involved."

Passing sentence at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge James Adkin told the defendant that had he been driving within the speed limit the accident may never have happened; or the women may have been less seriously injured.

"You reaction time was severely curtailed," sad the judge.

In addition to the jail term, Farragher will be banned from driving for three years from the point when he is released from his 45 month sentence.