Driver, 96, who mowed down and killed fellow bridge club player avoids jail

A 96-YEAR-OLD driver has avoided prison after driving on the pavement when leaving her bridge club and killing a fellow player.

- Chris Riches

June Mills told police she lost control of her Vauxhall Corsa when it accelerated unexpectedly as she left a methodist church in Formby, Merseyside, in August last year after an afternoon playing bridge.

Liverpool Crown Court heard she mounted the pavement and ploughed into pedestrians Brenda Joyce, 76, and Jennifer Ensor, 80 - fatally injuring Mrs Joyce and injuring Mrs Ensor.

Mills told detectives her accelerator pedal felt as if it had "dropped to the floor" as she manoeuvred round a parked car and she "shot forward".

Yesterday Judge Simon Medland KC handed Mills an 18-month suspended sentence after she admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Mrs Joyce's husband had not supported the criminal prosecution.