AN L-DRIVER whose two-and-a-half seconds of madness devastated the lives of two families has been jailed for 15 months.

That was the price it was decided Denise Bristow must pay - just over seven months inside before being released on licence - for causing the death of a motorcyclist Gary Douglas.

Judge Michael Lawson, QC, told the 39-year-old mother: “This is an extraordinarily sad occasion. The lives of those who knew and loved Gary have been destroyed and yours and those who love you have been destroyed too.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the dangerous U-turn, taking just over two seconds, that Bristow made on the brow of a hill caused the tragedy.

Both Bristow and the victim’s widow sobbed throughout the sentencing hearing on Monday.

The judge said at the end of the trial last month that Mr Douglas’s death was made even more devastating for his wife because they had been unable to have children.

“You can imagine the house is empty, their plans destroyed,” he added.

The jury was told how unaccompanied Bristow carried out the fatal manoeuvre at Rowetts Way, Leysdown, near Sheernessa, instead of turning on a roundabout just 350 metres away.

The married mother of a boy, aged five, then gave false details to the police and claimed she had a full driving licence. Soon afterwards, she gave the correct information.

She had been driving a Nissan Micra towards Eastchurch Club, where she had started a new job, on the morning of July 18 2003.

Eleanor Laws, prosecuting, said Bristow pulled into a bus lay-by and started to turn on the two-lane road, which had a 60mph speed limit and limited visibility.

Mr Douglas, of Bay View Gardens, Leysdown, was travelling in the same direction as Bristow. The car struck his motorcycle as Bristow emerged from the lay-by.

Bristow told officers that the motorcycle came from nowhere. She said she had checked her mirror and the road was clear.

“Just minutes after the interview was completed, Mr Douglas was pronounced dead,” said the prosecutor. “The cause of death was multiple injuries.”

Bristow, of Forge Cottage, Harty Ferry, Leysdown, denied causing death by dangerous driving but was convicted by an 11-1 majority.

She had been learning to drive "on and off" for about six years. She said she had passed her theory test, but never taken a driving test. She said in evidence that it was common for drivers to make the U-turn to get to Eastchurch.

David Smith, defending, said it was terrible sad for everybody concerned. “She would do anything to try and correct the situation, which she knows she can’t.

“In a period of under two-and-a-half seconds she devastated two families. Nothing I can say will help that with matter.”

Mr Smith said the accident had effected Bristow badly. She suffered from stress and had vivid nightmares.

“She has thought about the incident every day since it happened,” he said. “She is in as bad a state as I have seen her.”

Sending Bristow to prison, he said, meant that her husband would have to give up work as a stevedore at Sheerness docks to look after their son.

The family had also been given notice to quit their rented home on Wednesday next week by a farmer who had sold the land.

“The position is extremely bleak,” said Mr Smith. “She has served the sentence already on a daily basis.”

He urged the judge to find exceptional circumstances for suspending the sentence. “She has not thought of getting behind the wheel of a car again,” he added.

Judge Lawson told Mr Smith: “None of us can do anything about bringing back Mr Douglas and Mrs Douglas has that huge loss to bear. All I can do is mark the public disapproval. I can’t possibly match that life with a sentence.”

Jailing Bristow and banning her from driving for two years, the judge said the proper sentence would be two years, but he would reduce it to 15 months because of mitigating features.

He said he could not find that some of the factors were exceptional enough to justify suspending the sentence. Bristow will have to pass an extended driving test before driving again.