Chesterfield youth jailed for 16 months after ploughing into mum-of-two's car at between "80 to 90 mph"

James Alton hit Joanne Lacey - a manager at a large Chesterfield GP practice - after losing control on Moor Lane, Arkwright Town, - which has a 50mph speed limit.

Derby Crown Court heard today that around 6pm on January 22 Alton’s Renault Megan was seen by witnesses drifting onto the opposite carriageway before hitting Mrs Lacey’s Boxster.

The fifty-four-year-old grandmother-of-two’s car spun across the road and she was rushed to hospital - undergoing emergency surgery for internal bleeding in her abdomen.

The “fit and active” woman - who at the time ran 5km everyday - was told she may have to wear a colostomy bag.

Prosecutor Siward James-Moore told how Alton’s car - ending up in a ditch during the collision - left a “100-metre trail of debris” and the car’s engine block flew out and landed on the road.

A witness who saw the collision estimated Alton’s speed at between 80-90 mph.

Though accident investigators found Alton’s speedometer had frozen during the crash at 75mph after breaking, Mr James-Moore said: “The crown says the estimation of 80-90 mph is not significantly wide of the mark.”

Jailing National Tyres worker Alton as his family looked on in court today Judge Robert Egbuna told the 22-year-old “it gives the court no pleasure but this is a very serious offence”.

The court heard Alton had already received a ban previously for speeding in a 30 zone as a new driver and during police interview admitted he knew the road was an “accident blackspot”.

Judge Egbuna, telling Alton these were “aggravating factors” and acknowledging his remorse, said: “I’m in no doubt that when you set off that day you had no intention of causing the type of injuries that Miss Lacey suffered.

“I have no doubt that you did not intend that - however, sadly, you know from your own words that this was an accident blackspot.”

The judge said he had “no doubt” Alton’s remorse was “genuine” - however the judge added that at the time Mrs Lacey’s children “received a message on their Apple Watches indicating what had happened to their mother”.

He also noted that due to the pandemic “they could not go to the hospital”.

In a victim statement read out in court former fitness fan Mrs Lacey described being in “chronic pain” since the accident.

She was now unable to drive and suffered PTSD and flashbacks since the horrific accident.

The statement told how the accident had “massively impacted” Mrs Lacey’s and her family’s life.

On the evening of the accident her husband “witnessed the full extent of the injuries” and was “terrified” he would lose her and her children were left “traumatised” by the event.

Alton, of Parker Avenue, Calow, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

As well as being jailed for 16 months Alton was banned from driving for 44 months.

Judge Egbuna told him: “You’re fortunate that you did not pass away and that you did not cause the death of Miss Lacey.”

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