A WHEELCHAIR-using 96-year-old who became the oldest woman convicted of dangerous driving after killing an OAP has avoided jail.
June Mills was driving her Vauxhall Corsa when she lost control of the car and mounted the pavement, hitting Brenda Joyce, 76.
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June Mills kills pensioner and injures another woman in crash Credit: STEVE ALLEN
Mills also left an 80-year-old injured during the horror in Sefton, Merseyside, on August 2 last year.
Today she avoided jail and was instead given an 18-month suspended sentence for causing death by dangerous driving.
The pensioner, who wore a tartan blanket over her knees in the dock, is believed to be the oldest person in the UK to be convicted of the offence.
She was also banned from driving for five years and fined £1,500 at Liverpool Crown Court today.
Judge Simon Medland KC said: “From any view and from any angle this case is a complete tragedy.
“Mrs Joyce is dead, Mrs Ensor is injured, you have lost your good character and are in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court.”
The court was told Brenda and friend Jennifer Ensor were returning from a bridge club when the horror happened.
Mills, who uses a wheelchair, lost control of the car when she pressed too hard on the gas pedal.
Tom Gent, defending, said: “The gas pedal went under her foot and she panicked and didn’t react to it.
“She accepts because she said the driving was far below standard.”
Woman, 96, leaves court as she becomes Britain’s oldest dangerous driver after killing OAP in crash
When she was arrested, Mills told police she felt the pedal “drop to the floor” – causing her to shoot forward.
She added: “Everything happened very quickly and there were people in front of me, but I couldn’t avoid being hit because the car was going so fast I had no control over it.”
In a victim impact statement, Jennifer told the court she felt “guilty” for surviving the crash.
She also suffered tendon damage that left her unable to pay for golf.
In mitigation, Mr Gent said former careers adviser Mills had surrendered her driving license after the horror.
He added: He said: “This is obviously a terribly sad case. Mrs Mills, the defendant, is extremely sorry for what has happened.
“The consequences will follow her forever. She feels great shame and guilt.”
Detective Sergeant Andy Roper, from Merseyside Police, said today: “Our thoughts and condolences remain with Brenda’s family and friends as they continue to come to terms with the tragic events of last August.
“This was a complex and difficult investigation that led to today’s verdict in court.
“While nothing can bring Brenda back, we hope this outcome will help their recovery and provide at least some closure.”
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96-year-old admits causing death by dangerous drivingCredit: STEVE ALLEN
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She avoided prison and was given a suspended sentenceCredits: PA
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