By Paul Hooper and Gerry Warren

An “awful mistake” led to the death of a great-grandfather and left his 77-year-old friend facing a prison sentence.

But pillar of the community Patricia Hume was spared jailed after admitting she was at fault for the crash which claimed 92-year-old Roy Bagley’s life.

Hume – described as “a good soul” by her victim’s grieving family - had been travelling to play bridge with Mr Bagley when she crossed into the path of an oncoming car.

Mr Bagley – who had twice beaten cancer – was seriously injured and died in hospital from pneumonia three-and-a-half months later.

Former parish council clerk Hume, of Conyngham Lane, Bridge, was initially told she would not face charges but the Crown Prosecution Service reversed its decision following the intervention of a coroner.

She appeared before Canterbury Crown Court and admitted causing death by careless driving.

Sparing her a custodial sentence, Judge James O’Mahony said: “You had never put a foot wrong as a driver and you have done considerable public service.

“You are highly respected by the community and your family.

“You will always suffer and punish yourself for your mistake - you made a mistake.”

Prosecutor Rhodri James told how on December 21, 2016, Hume was driving Mr Bagley and her husband along the A257 at Ash on their way to play bridge.

Leah De Silva and her seven-year-old daughter were travelling in the opposite direction towards Wingham when Hume turned right into Chequer Lane, pulling out in front of the oncoming vehicle.

“Mrs De Silva tried to swerve but a collision was inevitable,” Mr James said.

He added that Mrs De Silva and her daughter were allowed to go home after being examined at the scene but Hume, her husband and Mr Bagley were taken to hospital.

“Mr Bagley, who was wearing a seatbelt, went to hospital and remained there until he sadly passed away in March last year,” Mr James said.

“The neck injury he sustained led to an infection which led to two bouts of pneumonia from which he eventually died.”

The court heard that experts established Mrs De Silva’s vehicle would have been visible by Hume for up to 248 metres and nine seconds.

Hume’s barrister, Alistair McDonald QC, told the judge she had an unblemished driving record for 54 years prior to the crash.

As Mr Bagley lay in hospital he was visited by the defendant, who regarded him as a close friend, he added.

Following the crash, Hume was told police planned to take no action against her, but charges were brought last June.

Mr McDonald added Hume knew the road well, travelling along it at least once or twice a week.

In her role as clerk of Ash Parish Council in the 1980s she had even been involved in the planning of the Ash bypass.

Hume was disqualified from driving for a year and ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work for the community.

Roy Bagley’s devastated family say they had not wished Patricia Hume to go to prison, describing her as “a good soul”.

"Dad doted on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren" - Clare Miles

They were in court to watch the sentencing and spoke to our sister paper the Kentish Gazette after Hume walked free.

Mr Bagley’s daughter, retired teacher Clare Miles, said: “We never wanted her to go to prison - she just made an awful mistake.

“Dad met Mrs Hume through mutual friends and enjoyed playing bridge. She is a good soul.”

Mrs Miles, who lived opposite her father in St Mary’s Meadow, Wingham, revealed he had twice beaten cancer - of the kidney and stomach - before the crash.

She described him as intelligent, funny, caring and remarkably fit for his 92 years.

“He was as sharp as a tack and had always been an incredibly bright person,” she said.

“He was a very talented engineer who built power stations all around the world and even designed nuclear power stations.

“He was also a devoted family man with a huge sense of humour who was great at telling stories, especially about all his travels.”

Mr Bagley was a widower and a father-of-two who moved to Wingham from Buckinghamshire to be close to his family.

“Dad doted on his grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” his daughter said.

“In fact, we managed to take the latest, little Leo, to see him in hospital when he was just eight weeks old, which gave him a boost.

"And it meant we could have a photo taken of four generations of the family.”

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mrs Miles told of the distress of seeing her father grow weaker in hospital.

“Watching my father deteriorate over the weeks, and his mental state deteriorating, was the hardest thing,” she said.

“On the day of his passing I had spoken with the nurse and they were going to move him into a home the following day.

"I had just got through the door when the phone rang. It was the hospital saying my father had died.

“I am convinced that had he not been involved in the collision, he would have gone on to reach 100.

"He may well have had several more years with his family.”