19/08/2015
Woman Jailed Over Death While Driving On Drugs
A woman has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for causing the death of a woman in her care.
Lydia Chiddle, 31, of Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving. She was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and given a three year driving ban.
On Wednesday, 29 October, 2014, Ms Chiddle was driving a Ford Puma when it drifted into the opposite lane of traffic and collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction.
Amanda Jacobs (56), who suffered from Huntingdon’s disease and was cared for by Ms Chiddle, died in hospital of injuries received in the accident.
Sgt Andy Hood, from the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: "Witnesses reported seeing the Ford weaving from side to side for about five or six miles. The driver travelling directly behind her told officers he doubled his distance between the car because he feared she would crash."
Blood tests revealed Chiddle had taken cannabis and provided a positive reading of 3.4microgrammes per litre of blood. The legal limit for cannabis under new drug driving legislation introduced in March this year is 2microgrammes per litre of blood.
Commenting on the sentence, Sgt Hood added: "Childdle was under the influence of drugs while driving and her actions have resulted in the death of her passenger who was in her care.
"It is a minority of people who believe that they are fit to drive whilst under the influence of drugs, but as this case demonstrates, they are putting themselves and others at risk which cannot be acceptable."
(MH)
Lydia Chiddle, 31, of Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving. She was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and given a three year driving ban.
On Wednesday, 29 October, 2014, Ms Chiddle was driving a Ford Puma when it drifted into the opposite lane of traffic and collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction.
Amanda Jacobs (56), who suffered from Huntingdon’s disease and was cared for by Ms Chiddle, died in hospital of injuries received in the accident.
Sgt Andy Hood, from the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: "Witnesses reported seeing the Ford weaving from side to side for about five or six miles. The driver travelling directly behind her told officers he doubled his distance between the car because he feared she would crash."
Blood tests revealed Chiddle had taken cannabis and provided a positive reading of 3.4microgrammes per litre of blood. The legal limit for cannabis under new drug driving legislation introduced in March this year is 2microgrammes per litre of blood.
Commenting on the sentence, Sgt Hood added: "Childdle was under the influence of drugs while driving and her actions have resulted in the death of her passenger who was in her care.
"It is a minority of people who believe that they are fit to drive whilst under the influence of drugs, but as this case demonstrates, they are putting themselves and others at risk which cannot be acceptable."
(MH)
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