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Jamey Coleman death: Driver walks free from court

A driver who knocked down a man and drove off leaving him with fatal injuries has walked free from court.

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Jamey Coleman, aged 24, was hit 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, did not stop and was jailed for four months suspended for a year at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday for failing to stop and failing to report an accident.

She was later identified after police checked road cameras to find the vehicle responsible and told them that she hit a deer.

Mr Coleman, of Springhill Road, Brownhills, was hit by the Peugeot 306 at about 3.20am in a well-lit area near the town centre.

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Mr Giles Rowden, prosecuting, told the court that he was on his way home with friend Thomas Tonks when he was struck, and that both men had been drinking.

He said: "Mr Tonks says his friend Jamey was ahead of him. He then became aware of his friend flying through the air and saw a light coloured hatchback car. He did not recall seeing brake lights or see the drive attempt to stop. Jamey was taken to hospital in Birmingham but died the following morning," Mr Rowden said.

Jamey Coleman, and the scene of the tragedy

Ward, a restaurant worker, was traced to her address in Benton's Lane, Great Wyrley, along with the damaged car. Mr Rowden read a victim impact statement from Mr Coleman's family to the court. "His mum and dad want to say he was a very much wanted child, a first son that took them some time to conceive. They feel like they have lost everything. They have broken hearts," it stated.

Mr Chris Loach, defending, said: "She acknowledges that this is a tragedy for the family. It is clearly a distressing time."

For failing to stop and failing to report an accident Ward was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail suspended for 12 months. She was banned from the road for 12 months, given a 12-month community order and told to carry out 250 hours unpaid work, along with being ordered to pay £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge. She had pleaded guilty.

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