The Attorney General appealed against a sentence of 21 months imposed on the defendant. She was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. The accident had occurred after she had been using her mobile phone to send text messages, but not at the moment of or immediately after sending one.
Held: The application was refused. Her behaviour had not directly affected the incident, though she might generally have been distracted. Though the sentence was lenient, and perhaps even unduly so, it was not to be disturbed. Each such case must be fact specific.
Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice, Mr Justice Lloyd Jones and Mr Justice Wyn Williams
Times 12-May-2009
England and Wales
Criminal Sentencing, Road Traffic
Leading Case
Updated: 09 November 2021; Ref: scu.342999