Driver who hit girl, 10, spared jail
A mother who mowed down a 10-year-old Sunderland girl and left her unconscious in the middle of the road has been spared jail.
A mother who mowed down a 10-year-old Sunderland girl and left her unconscious in the middle of the road has been spared jail.
Bobbie Tighe was crossing Redcar Road, in Red House, on her way home from school when she was hit by disqualified driver Joanne Beven.
Bobbie’s family have said they believe Beven has “got off lightly” after she was given a suspended jail term for the incident.
Newcastle Crown Court, sitting at Moot Hall, heard how Beven, 41, failed to stop and report the accident after causing Bobbie serious injury on Tuesday, November 6, last year.
Jolyn Perks, prosecuting, told the court how Bobbie was left in the middle of the road unconscious and suffered a fractured pelvis, soft tissue injuries and minor head injuries.
Mr Perks said: “She doesn’t stop in what clearly was an obvious impact on a young child.
“The child was still unconscious when her mother arrived.
Mr Perks told the court how Bobbie’s mother Samantha said the family have had numerous visits back and forward to the hospital and that the injures had had an impact on her daughter.
Mr Perks told the court how an investigation was made by the child’s mother and the vehicle Beven had been driving was found on a driveway.
It was missing a wing mirror, which had been left at the scene, and the number plates of the vehicle had been removed.
Mr Perks said Beven then took it upon herself to notify officers and voluntarily attend the police station to be interviewed in relation to the incident.
Mr Perks told the court how Beven was banned from driving at the time of the col- lision after being disqualified by a court for 18 months in October 2017.
Beven, of Helmsley Street, Hartlepool, admitted causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified.
She also pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified, having no insurance, failing to report an accident and to produce certificate of insurance, failing to stop after a road accident and permitting danger of injury due to her vehicle.
Vic Laffey, defending, told the court how Beven had been suffering from mental health problems and personal problems.
The judge, Recorder John Aitken,sentenced Beven to 18 months in prison suspended for two years.
Bobbie’s grandparents Kathryn Cook, 52, and Trevor Cook, 56, from Sunderland, attended the sentencing hearing.
Kathryn, who works as a civil servant, said: “I’m devastated. “Bobbie is healing medically but she’s having nightmares. I think she should have been given a harsher punishment.”