Driver spared prison after killing friend in tragic collision

FAMILY OF CRASH VICTIM TELL COURT THEY FORGIVE ELDERLY MOTORIST

- KENNY PARKER and THOMAS MOLLOY

AN elderly man ran over and killed one of his wife's closest friends after mistaking his accelerator for his brake.

Henry Booth, 78, has been spared jail after the 83-year-old victim's family claimed they bore 'no malice' towards him.

Booth, of Edge Lane, Droylsden, had been attempting to park his Ford B Max car outside The Haddon Hall pub on October 21 last year, when it suddenly rolled forward.

He tried to bring the car to a stop but instead it sped up and ploughed into his wife Joan and two family friends who were walking into the pub- including Barbara Daniels.

Mrs Daniels, 83, died at the scene.

Mrs Booth, who is in her 70s, sustained a pelvic fracture, while the other friend - Rita Robinson - suffered a fracture to her left shoulder and a small fracture to her back.

Andrew Hey, prosecuting, said: "The defendant stopped his vehicle and the three passengers, one of whom was his wife Joan and two friends Barbara Daniels and Rita Robinson, got out of the vehicle.

Mrs Daniels and Mrs Booth began to walk in front of the car when the defendant suddenly drove forward colliding with all three females.