A DRIVER involved in a hit-and-run crash which claimed the life of a 92-year-old woman still has no recollection of the incident, a court heard.

Melanie Weller, 62, of Quarry Road, Hythe, was given a 120-day suspended prison sentence when she appeared before magistrates in Folkestone on Tuesday.

At an earlier hearing she admitted failing to stop after an accident and failing to report the accident which occurred at Seabrook at about 4pm on Saturday, May 21.

Weller also received a five-year ban from driving and must complete 100 hours unpaid work.

No one witnessed the crash in which pensioner Ruby Lovett received fatal injuries.

But neighbours in Seabrook Road heard the smash and came out to find Mrs Lovett in the road. She died at the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford the next day.

Debris from Weller’s blue Rover 25 was found at the scene and days afterwards, a female police officer who had attended the crash saw the damaged vehicle and Weller was arrested and questioned, initially on suspicion of death by dangerous driving.

Then, when she professed to have no knowledge of the event, the charges changed.

Denzil Pugh, prosecuting, told the court: “The impact was significant and must have come to the attention of Mrs Weller. It subsequently went out of her mind.”

The court heard excerpts from medical reports, which said Weller suffered profound communication difficulties and may have the onset of dementia.

It was explained she could be suffering depression after the death of her husband and it was her Kleeneze catalogue round that keep her going.

Oliver Kirk, defending said: “She leads something of a lonely existence. To this day, she has no recollection of what occurred during the accident. She wants to sell the car and does not intend to drive again.

“She has great sorrow for what has occurred. She has had dreams about it, it has caused her a great deal of disturbance.”

The sentence means Weller will not go to prison, but if she re-offends within the next year, she may face the 120-day sentence. She was also ordered to pay £43 prosecution costs.