'You did not intend to harm anyone... what happened was a devastating moment in time'

A motorist who caused the death of a beloved mum has been spared jail. Tobias Smith was just 19 when his Mini hit 50-year-old Elizabeth Davies as she crossed the road on Saturday, January 13.

A court heard that as Mrs Davies had crossed the road, she looked right but not left, stepping out in front of Smith's Mini. Smith was driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone but the prosecution accepted that he could not have avoided hitting Mrs Davies, even if he had been driving within the speed limit.

Mrs Davies was rushed to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries the following day. Smith has now been handed a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 15 days by Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Howard Searle revealed that on the day of the crash, Mrs Davies had attended a family social event at Trentham Gardens, in Stoke-on-Trent, leaving at 3.30pm due to a hip injury. She took a taxi to Stoke Station intending to take a train home to Derby, reports Stoke on Trent Live. However, the line was closed between Stoke and Blythe Bridge, leading her to take the replacement bus service.

Smith was behind the wheel of his 20 year old Mini—freshly MOT'd and well maintained—travelling from Wetley Rocks to Stafford, when Mrs Davies got off the coach and crossed the road.

Mr Searle revealed: "Mrs Davies got off the coach in Uttoxeter Road. She stood at the side of the road for a couple of minutes. She looked to the right, in front of the coach. She was there for 10 seconds before she started to cross the road, regrettably into the path of the defendant's Mini.

"It was noted by the collision investigator, although he was driving over the speed limit, it would have happened if he had been driving at the speed