Jail for speeder who killed nurse

A speeding driver who killed a Black Country community nurse after ploughing into her on a footpath is today starting an 18 month jail term.

The family of Francesca Guy today said they felt "justice had been done" after Sheree Atkinson was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Atkinson stuck struck 22-year-old Miss Guy after losing control of her Ford Focus along the Himley Road, in Dudley, last September.

Carer Miss Guy, of Sunnybank Road, Gornal, was flung into the air by the force of the crash and later died of her injuries.

Atkinson, aged 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving when she appeared at court.

The court heard Atkinson had been driving at "excessive" speeds on the morning of the crash, on September 8. She lost control of the car, which can reach a top speed of 144 miles per hour, on a bend near the Milking Bank island and swerved onto the opposite side of the carriageway.

But as she tried to regain control, the car careered into a barrier and then rebounded into former Bishop Milner pupil Miss Guy, who was walking on the footpath.

The court was told Atkinson, who lives in Malvern View Road, had hit speeds of up to 64 miles per hour in a 40mph zone prior to the crash.

Speaking after the court case, Miss Guy's mother, Anita, said: "I feel justice has been done.

"If she hadn't done jail time then my daughter's life meant nothing. I would have thought it was a complete injustice," she said.

"At the end of the day they could have given her 14 years but I'm still not going to have Francesca back when she gets out. My daughter was not a vengeful person and would have not wanted a long sentence."

Mark Rees, prosecuting, told the court Atkinson was speeding and had her car stereo turned up "very loud". He said: "Miss Guy was walking in the same direction as the vehicle and it collided with her from behind."

Michael Duck, defending, said Atkinson had been left devastated by the accident and had since been trying to make a difference to the community through voluntary work.

Judge Nicholas Webb sentenced Atkinson to 18 months behind bars and disqualified her from driving for eight years.

He said: "This is truly tragic and Francesca's family will never recover from their loss."