Hit-and-run driver who knocked down pensioner on zebra crossing after drinking at Christmas market jailed for two years

The 78-year-old man, who used a walking stick, had just left the Bridge End Working Men’s Club, but as he crossed the road he was struck by Lucy Hiddleston’s car.

Following the collision on the night of November 29, 2019, Hiddleston drove off with two female friends in her vehicle before parking up in a side street and abandoning the car.

Hiddleston, of Top Barn Lane, Rossendale, contacted the police by phone the morning after the collision and handed herself in.

She also gave them dashcam footage which a judge said provided “damning evidence” of her dangerous driving leading up to the collision.

Bradford Crown Court heard on January 26 how Hiddleston and her friends had caught the train to Manchester to visit the Christmas markets, but when they returned they were all under the influence of alcohol despite the defendant having agreed to be the designated driver.

The judge said it appeared that there was a disagreement in the group about whether Hiddleston should be driving and that combined with her intoxication led to her being distracted and simply not seeing the pedestrian as he was using the crossing.

“It is also clear that you were exceeding the speed limit at the time of the collision,” said the judge.

The pensioner suffered multiple injuries including a fractures to his leg, pubic bone and face as well as a bleed on the brain.

“Those injuries have changed his life forever,” said Judge Mansell QC.

“He remained in hospital and then a care facility for eight months following the accident.

“He returned home last July, but he has vastly reduced mobility as well as ongoing pain from his leg fracture, has to use a Zimmer frame to walk, has had to have adaptions to his home and now requires 24/7 care from his family and other care providers.”

The man’s daughter described him as “a shadow of his former self” and said her father’s quality of life had been severely reduced.

“A serious aggravating factor of this case is that having driven into him and knocked him over you immediately drove off from the scene rather than stop and provide assistance to him,” added the judge.

Hiddleston pleaded guilty to a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and Judge Mansell said there was significant mitigation in her previous good character, clean driving licence, handing herself in and her genuine remorse.

But he said a prison sentence was unavoidable to punish Hiddleston for the harm she had caused to the victim and his family and to deter others from getting behind the wheel of a car when intoxicated.

Hiddleston was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to take an extended test at the end of the disqualification period.