Hit-and-run driver escapes immediate jail sentence
A hit-and-run driver who knocked down a 24-year-old man who later died from his injuries has escaped an immediate prison sentence.
Jamey Coleman was struck by a car on the A5 Watling Street, in Brownhills, on his way back from a birthday party at the nearby White Horse pub on March 30.
Motorist 23-year-old Bethany Ward, who did not stop at the scene, was jailed for four months suspended for a year at Walsall Magistrates Court for offences of failing to stop and failing to report an accident.
Mr Coleman, of Springhill Road, Brownhills, was hit by Ward's Peugeot 306 at about 3.20am.
She pleaded guilty to the offences at a previous hearing and had told officers she hit a deer.
Mr Chris Loach, defending, said Ward, of Benton's Lane, Great Wyrley, was remorseful over the tragedy.
For failing to stop and failing to report an accident Ward was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail suspended for 12 months to run concurrently, she was banned from the road for 12 months, given a 12-month community order and ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work. she was also ordered to pay £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge.
Chairman of the bench Mr Brian Benton told her: "We did feel that the offences that you pleaded guilty to did cross the custody threshold because of the death, aggravated by your failure to stop."
See also: Bid to raise £10,000 in memory of hit-and-run victim Jamey Coleman.
