Driver jailed for death crash on Christmas Day
A MAN has been jailed after a Christmas Day death crash.
Nathaniel Ritchie, from Salford, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years.
He had been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a unanimous decision at a previous hearing.
Chester Crown Court heard how he was driving an Audi RS5 on the A536 Macclesfield Road in North Rode, Cheshire, on December 25, 2019.
In a statement, Cheshire Constabulary said that Ritchie, 34, of St Paul’s Road, Salford, was travelling to buy some soft drinks after celebrating Christmas at his home address, which was in Congleton at the time. “On leaving his home, Ritchie realised the shop he was intending to travel to was likely to be closed due to it being Christmas Day. He decided to turn around and travel to a petrol station in Congleton,” a spokesperson for the force said.
“It was when Ritchie drove back along the A536 he travelled at speed on a left-hand bend, veering into the opposite side of the carriageway colliding with a white Volkswagen Up.”
The Volkswagen was being driven by 46-year-old Lakshmi Basford, from the village of Rainow, who died at the scene.
Ritchie was subsequently arrested and then later charged with dangerous driving. Pc Nick Anderton, who led the investigation, said: “The family of Lakshmi have been waiting over two years to receive justice following her tragic death.
“Christmas Day is a time for celebrating and being with your family – sadly Lakshmi’s family will never be able to experience this again due to Ritchie’s reckless actions. Ritchie has made Lakshmi’s family relive her last moments all over again by making them sit through a trial.
“I hope in some way this sentence that has been passed down by the courts to Ritchie will in some way help bring Lakshmi’s family some comfort knowing that he is now behind bars. Our thoughts remain firmly with Lakshmi’s family as they will continue to deal with the devastating outcome of this heart-breaking incident every day.”
Lakshmi’s family, who were present throughout the trial said: “No sentence passed can ever reflect the loss we continue to suffer”.
Paying tribute they added: “Lakshmi was such a beautiful, kind and gentle lady who had many years of life to live. Our lives will never be the same and we miss her greatly.”