A children's entertainer caused the death of a woman driver because of a split second's lost concentration.

Thomas Molloy, 22, of Higham, Kent, (far right) was distracted by the way a third car shot across the A2 to enter the Strood slipway.

He looked in front and saw Helen Lucas' car stationary in the outside lane. Ms Lucas, 36, from Maidstone (near right) had spun out of control before stopping.

Molloy swerved on to the central reservation. He hit her as she used the refuge.

He had admitted at an earlier court causing her death last February by careless driving.

After watching seven-and-a-half minutes of CCTV footage of the scene that culminated with the tragedy, Dartford magistrates today sentenced Molloy to 60 days in prison, but suspended the sentence for a year.

They also ordered him to serve a 12-hourly curfew each night from 8pm for the next four months, banned him from driving for two years, and ordered him to pay £85 costs.

The chairman, Shelley Heim, told Molloy he was driving fast like many other drivers. But while they braked and moved to the left of the car in the outside lane he went the opposite way.

"We feel this accident does justify a custodial sentence," she said.

"However, we believe you are truly remorseful about what happened, and like the families, you will live with this for the rest of your life."