Drug-driver mum faces jail sentence after hitting cyclist

A CYCLIST was left fighting for life after being hit by a drug-driving mother-of-five.

Kelly Sumner hit Stephen Derbyshire with her uninsured blue Nissan Micra, as he cycled along a scenic Bolton road on a Sunday afternoon during this summer’s heatwave.

Mr Derbyshire, 57, was left in a critical condition and had to be airlifted to hospital.

Sumner was arrested at the scene of the June 10 collision on Lever Park Avenue, Horwich.

A drugs test revealed she had ‘more than the specified level of benzoylecgonine’ in her system – benzoylecgonine being a substance which indicates cocaine use.

Now she has pleaded guilty to charges of causing serious bodily harm by dangerous driving, having no insurance, and drug-driving at a Bolton Crown Court hearing, watched by her victim’s family.

The 35-year-old, of Wright Street, Chorley, will be sentenced in the new year, and has been banned from interim.

Judge Graeme Smith said: “The starting point will inevitably be a custodial sentence. I do not shy away from the fact that a custodial sentence is a very real possibility given the circumstances of this case.”

Speaking for the defence, Richard driving in the Littler said: “The defendant is a woman of good character. She’s a single mother of five children.

“She completely accepts the charges against her.

“She has been to her GP and has been referred to an organisation for drink and drug and alcohol misuse.

“She has been meeting with a counsellor and psychologist.”

At her sentencing hearing on January 11, the defence are expected to serve a psychological report on her, while the prosecution will update the judge on how the victim is.

Mr Derbyshire’s family held hands in court as they heard the case.