A pensioner hit the accelerator in her car by mistake and caused the death of an elderly great-grandmother in a freak accident, a court heard.

Jean Epsley’s Toyota Yaris shot through the barrier at a hospital car park without her in it and hit a road sign which broke and struck 95-year-old Jean Downing in the head and neck as she sat in her wheelchair.

The widow was flown to King’s College Hospital in London but died from multiple injuries.

Epsley, of Woodlands Road, Ditton, walked free after admitting causing death by dangerous driving on Friday.

Suspending 14 months' imprisonment for 18 months, a judge called it “a tragic, extraordinary and exceptional case”.

Mrs Downing’s family had shown sympathy for Epsley, 72, and urged Judge Julian Smith not to jail her.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Epsley had taken her husband, 83, to Maidstone Hospital on May 30 last year and they were about to head home.

Prosecutor John Fitzgerald said Mrs Downing was on the grass verge waiting for her carer to return from paying for her car park ticket.

Epsley had got out of her car to put her pre-paid ticket into the machine when it began to move forward. She was half out and reacted by putting her foot on the accelerator.

“That caused it to lurch forward, through the barrier and onto the kerb, striking the road sign and railings,” said Mr Fitzgerald.

“In an extraordinary chain of events, the impact of the Toyota into the road sign caused a part of it to dislodge, fly through the air and, almost unbelievably, strike Mrs Downing.

“It caused a number of injuries and rendered her unconscious.”

Epsley told police she thought she had left the semi-automatic car in neutral, but accepted it was in drive.

Her husband Brian had shouted “Brake Jean, brake.”

Mother-of-three Mrs Downing, a former tool engraver who had three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, had been to a hospital appointment and was waiting for her carer to take her home in Staplehurst.

Epsley, a mum-of-two who has a walking frame, wept as the judge told her he would not send her to prison.

He also praised Mrs Downing’s family for their “extraordinary insight, empathy and understanding” in not wanting a jail sentence to be imposed.

Epsley was banned from driving for two years but Judge Smith said he was certain she would never take to the road again.

The judge said while Mrs Downing had been struck by “dreadful and horrific” chance, Epsley’s failings had caused the collision.

“This was, as all agree and any observer would acknowledge, a tragic and extraordinary case" - Judge Julian Smith

“This was, as all agree and any observer would acknowledge, a tragic and extraordinary case,” he said. “The events leading to Jean Downing’s tragic death are also exceptional.

“This was a piece of driving dreadful in its consequences. It was a failing to do what you should have done and reacting badly to a situation of your own making, which caused a danger to others.

“You made a dreadful error of judgement by leaving the car in gear and compounded that by failing to deal with the consequences.”

Judge Smith described the insight shown by Mrs Downing’s family as humbling, adding: “They speak of their sympathy for you and robustly, and some may think generously, express their wish not to see you in prison.”

Epsley, who has driven for 43 years without any convictions, was ordered to pay £800 in costs.