Jessica Wells outside the Old Bailey (Picture: Central News)

A motorist killed a 80-year-old pedestrian when she took her eyes off the road for a split second, a court has heard.

Jessica Wells, 22, was travelling at 44pm in a 30 zone in March last year when she spotted a speed camera.

She glanced down at her speedometer to check her speed, and in that brief moment collided with Ian Rose, who had just disembarked from a bus.

Prosecutor Nicola Merrick said explained how that ‘point of distraction was where, sadly, [Wells] collided with Mr Rose.’


Wells was also injured, however she claimed full responsibility for the crash when interviewed in hospital.

The Old Bailey, London (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

Defence counsel Alexandra Tampakopoulos said of Wells: ‘This knowledge and the guilt of something that she did is a thought she has to live with every day of her life.’



Judge Philip Katz QC sentenced Wells to four months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after she admitted causing death by careless driving.

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He told Wells: ‘I accept that you have from the word go shown a considerable degree of remorse here.

‘It’s quite clear to me you are a sympathetic and compassionate young woman.

‘You are also very conscious of the fact you have taken somebody’s life, a fact you will have to live with for the rest of your life.

‘I accept wholly that you are thoroughly remorseful about what you have done.

‘It seems to me I will cause more damage than justice requires if I sentence you to prison.’

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