by Keith Hunt

A woman who lost control of a car and ran over and killed a 90-year-old great-grandmother in front of her horrified daughter has been spared jail.

Lorraine Elliott was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours unpaid work. She was banned from driving for 18 months.

The family of victim Irene Walter, of Crendon Park, Southborough, had indicated they did not want the 56-year-old carer to be sent to prison.

Judge Jeremy Carey said he could not and would not pass sentence according to the wishes of those involved.

But he added the wishes were commendably held and it was not at all surprising that Mrs Walter's daughter, the Rev Penelope Swithinbank, and her family were not vindictive and preferred a constructive course.

Elliott, of Yeovil, Somerset, admitted causing death by careless driving as she was about to stand trial, having denied the offence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the freak accident happened after Elliott had arrived at Tonbridge railway station from London on September 23 last year.

Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, said a car – an automatic Rover 623 owned by elderly Beryl Williams, who was in their care – had been driven there by another carer, Marguerite Dwane, she was about to relieve.

At the same time, Mrs Walter was dropping off her daughter in her Ford Fiesta at the station after a visit. Both cars were at a drop-off point.

It was thought the Rover had a puncture and Mrs Williams told Elliott to move it off.

As Elliott manoeuvred she hit the Ford Fiesta and struck both Mrs Walter and Mrs Dwane.

"Mrs Walter, sadly, was knocked under the wheels of the Rover and was trapped there as it continued to drive forwards, dragging her along the road for some 10 metres", said Mr Prosser.

Callum Kidd, who was dropping off his girlfriend, ran after the car and managed to grab the handbrake.

Mrs Walter was left lying in the road seriously injured. A doctor from Kent Air Ambulance tried to save her but she died at the scene. Mrs Dwane was taken to hospital.

Distressed Elliott claimed the Rover shunted forwards and would not stop when she hit the brakes. "I just shut my eyes and it happened," she said.

But the prosecutor said a police expert found the car had no mechanical defects and all the tyres were inflated.