A woman who killed a pensioner in a crash and drove away has avoided prison.
57-year-old Jane Hill pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving when she appeared before magistrates back in October.
The defendant was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on 25 November, where the judge told her she “did not have the courage to do the right thing”.
Hill received a six month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was banned from driving for three years. She must also complete three hundred hours of unpaid work.
The collision happened in Bridgewater at about 4pm on 23 September 2022. Emergency services were called to a report of a woman seriously injured in the road.
85-year-old Jean Bentley had been walking home when she was struck by Hill’s car. Hill did not stop at the scene. She moved her vehicle away before returning and calling for an ambulance.
Jean was flown to hospital by air ambulance but died the following day despite the efforts of medical staff.
Police quickly established that she had been hit in a fail-to-stop collision and began enquiries to trace the vehicle involved.
CCTV footage showed Hill driving out of Dukes Mead before returning to the scene. Officers seized her car and forensic testing confirmed it had been in the collision.
Hill was arrested and initially denied responsibility. She was later charged.
In court, Jean’s daughters described the devastating impact of their loss. One said: “She was more than just a mother – she was the heart of our family, a devoted nan to five beautiful grandchildren, and a woman who brought love, strength, and kindness into every life she touched.
“On 23 September 2022, my mother’s life was violently taken in a hit-and-run incident. The person responsible didn’t stop, didn’t call for help at first, and didn’t take responsibility. Instead, they left her lying on the road like she didn’t matter. But she did matter – so much.
“Her death has left a void that can never be filled. My family has lost a vibrant, energetic, sport mad lady. My siblings and I have lost the woman who guided us, supported us, and loved us unconditionally. And her five grandchildren have been robbed of her hugs, her wisdom, and the joy she brought into their lives.
“Every holiday, every birthday, every ordinary day is now marked by her absence. We will never hear her laugh again, never get her advice, never see her smile as she watches her grandchildren grow. The pain is unbearable, and it is made worse by the fact that her death could have been prevented.
“Whoever did this didn’t just take a life – they shattered a family. They took away a woman who was loved beyond measure, and they left us with grief, anger, and unanswered questions.”
The judge described Jean as a “brilliant individual” and recognised the significant loss to her loved ones.
DS Angus Moncur said: “Hill’s refusal to admit her guilt until last month’s trial left Jean’s family without the answers they deserved for three years and put them through an unnecessarily prolonged court process.
“Her behaviour was nothing short of cowardly and I’m glad that she has now admitted what she did and has faced justice through the courts.
“If you get behind the wheel of a vehicle you have a responsibility to other road users. If you don’t take that responsibility seriously, then it can have utterly tragic consequences, as it did for Jean and her family in this case.”
