Amanda Day sentenced for Billy Elbrow crash at Milton Interchange

Amanda Day stared straight ahead from the dock at Oxford Crown Court yesterday as her victim's mother read out a poignant tribute to her dead son.

Visibly emotional, Billy Elbrow's mother Katrina Matthews described him as 'loved by so many people' and said the family had been 'shattered' by their loss.

Read also: MS sufferer is convicted of growing cannabis plants – despite her claim it was for medical use

Day went to trial at the court last month denying one count of causing death by careless driving.

Prosecutors claimed that she caused a crash at the Milton Interchange which led to the death of Mr Elbrow, 20, from Abingdon, on the night of August 23, 2018.

Billy Elbrow.

The 52-year-old of Westmead, Princes Risborough, denied the charge and driving through a red light and claimed that the light was green and that the crash was not her fault.

Despite her protestations she was found guilty by a majority verdict at the end of her trial.

Read again: Day is convicted after her trial

At her sentencing hearing yesterday, Ms Matthews read out a victim personal statement detailing the impact the tragedy had had on her family.

Fighting back tears from the witness box she said: "Since the death our lives have been severely shattered and we are left feeling utterly devastated and lost.

"Future milestones and plans you would have shared together and taken for granted have been cruelly taken.

"He was loved by so many people. This was because of his wonderful personality, great sense of humour and infectious laugh and smile.

"Billy always lived life to the full.

Some of the flowers and other tributes left at the scene of the crash.

"This loss has left me completely devastated and broken, I feel like a big part of me has now gone.

"I am lost each and every day."

The court went on to hear that Mr Elbrow had just secured the 'job of his dreams' restoring vehicles, and was one week away from taking a long-planned holiday with his partner.

Ms Matthews added that 'it has been made worse by Amanda Day blaming our son and not taking responsibility for her own actions'.

During the trial Day – who denied any wrongdoing – took to the witness box to profess her innocence.

Read again: Day gives evidence during her trial

The Ministry of Defence senior employee told jurors that, on the day of the collision, she was travelling from her Princes Risborough home towards Wantage.

She said she arrived at the Milton Interchange roundabout with the intention of joining the road in the direction of Wantage.

The jury heard that Day missed her exit and then continued around the roundabout once, travelling underneath the A34.

She explained: “I decided to go around [the roundabout] again because I would have cut somebody up if I had changed lanes suddenly.”

Milton Interchange viewed from the western (Wantage) side. Picture: Google Maps

Day was asked about the collision which happened moments later at the roundabout and she said she would have been driving ‘about 25 mph.’

Asked about the colour of the traffic light at her junction she told jurors the light was green and she said of her driving: “I was driving very carefully.”

During cross examination Day was asked if her case was that the accident was Mr Elbrow’s fault, to which she answered: “I don’t believe it was my fault.”

Read again: The opening of the case

After the guilty verdict, Judge Nigel Daly said the crash had been a case of ‘momentary inattention’.

He went on to criticise the layout of the roundabout and said ‘particularly that spot’ was the scene of multiple crashes adding: “It had some impact on what happened.”.

In mitigation yesterday, defence barrister Stephen Ferson said his client had showed 'genuine remorse' after the collision.

He said: "This case is a case of momentary inattention on a nightmare roundabout."

He went on to say that Mr Elbrow had been driving at speeds of more than 60mph at the time of the collision.

Sentencing, Judge Nigel Daly said he accepted that if Mr Elbrow had not been travelling at that speed 'he would have gone around the back of the vehicle.'

He added: "It doesn't absolve you from your own carelessness and the consequences thereof.

"The loss of a loved one cannot be measured by a penalty of the court. All I can do is express the sympathy of the court to those who have suffered."

Day was handed a community penalty for 12 months.

As part of that order she must carry out 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and obey an overnight curfew for three months.

She must also pay a victim surcharge and court costs of £5,000 and she was disqualified from driving for 18 months.