Ryhill driver jailed for causing carer’s death at Crofton

A teenage driver who mounted the kerb and killed a carer has been jailed for 30 months.
Floral tributes for Julie Shaw at Santingley Lane, CroftonFloral tributes for Julie Shaw at Santingley Lane, Crofton
Floral tributes for Julie Shaw at Santingley Lane, Crofton

Stephen Cutmore, 19, was “flying” along in a Ford Fiesta moments before he caused the death of Julie Shaw, 45, at Santingley Lane, Crofton, in September 2013.

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday ( Thursday) how the married mum-of-two, from Normanton, was working as a carer when tragedy struck.

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Prosecutor Heather Gilmore told how witnesses described seeing Cutmore’s car going too fast before the crash. One motorist thought Cutmore was going to go round a bend on two wheels given his “clearly inappropriate” speed. A jogger also heard a screech of tyres as it went round the bend.

Julie ShawJulie Shaw
Julie Shaw

But the court was told there was a car in the road ahead which was about to turn.

Cutmore swerved to avoid it but went on to the pavement and hit Mrs Shaw.

Mrs Shaw died from injuries sustained in the collision.

The court heard how the speed limit went from being a national limit to a 30mph zone. Miss Gilmore said it wasn’t possible to say what speed Cutmore was doing at the point of collision but tyre marks suggested it was between 45mph and 64mph, and more likely at the higher end.

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Miss Gilmore also told the court about the traumatic effect on the victim’s family, including her husband Philip.

She added: “He is totally lost without his wife of 13 years. She was his life. He has lost the will to live.”

Mrs Shaw also has two grown up daughters.

Cutmore, of Hammerton Grove, Ryhill, admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

Robin Frieze, mitigating, said: “He would rather it had been him than the victim.”

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The court heard that Cutmore was normally a decent law abiding citizen and had been an “apprentice of the year”.

Judge James Spencer QC, passing sentence, said: “You are just 19 years of age and you are in a heap of trouble. Most of us go through our maturation period, I suppose, by the skin of our teeth, without any mishaps. So we can grow and mature and can lead valuable lives. You must feel your life has been spoiled beyond measure.”

He added: “You have, by your dangerous driving, caused the death of another person, and that other person was just as valued as you are at home and the loss that has been experienced by the relatives of that deceased person will be just as great, if not greater, than the sense of loss that your parents feel at the moment.”

Judge Spencer jailed Cutmore for 30 months and gave him a five-year driving ban.