Teen death driver spared jail

Helen McLoughlin, 37, of Mill Close, Ackworth, was travelling at just 10-15mph in her Land Rover when she hit the 15-year-old Ackworth School pupil at around 4.15pm on October 10 last year.

Leeds Crown Court heard the Upton youngster, who died from fatal brain injuries, was with her mother Sarah Bentham on the way to a singing lesson when the tragedy occurred at the junction of Station Road and Pontefract Road.

As the pair crossed the road, Mrs Bentham, who works at the school, reached a traffic island and heard a noise.

She looked back and saw her daughter lying face down and bleeding in the road, having been hit by the defendant’s car.

John Bull, prosecuting, said McLoughlin, a nursery assistant and dinner lady, appeared to be in shock and told one witness, ‘I just didn’t see them’, and to another, ‘I’ve killed her. I didn’t even see her’.”

Imogen was rushed to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield and later transferred to Leeds General Infirmary but died from her injuries.

See next week’s Express for the full story.