Driver,17, in death accident spared jail

Majorie Williams, who walked with the aid of a stick, was going to visit her hairdresser in January when she was struck by a speeding Honda Civic, driven by Uzair Khan in Haworth Road, Heaton, Bradford.

Yesterday sixth former Khan, who was 17 at the time and had only been a qualified driver for about four months, was sentenced to 180 hours community service work after he admitted causing Mrs Williams's death by dangerous driving.

Judge Roger Scott said he was able to take an exceptional course with the now 18-year-old after reading a letter from Mrs Williams's family.

In the letter her daughter Judith Moore described how they could never forgive Khan for what he had done, but accepted that their lives had to move on.

She said her mother and late father would not want to see a young life ruined.

"Don't let this destroy you, but use your life to bring credit to your family, your community and not least yourself," she said.

Khan, of St Leonard's Road, Girlington, had been driving school friends back from a trip to a shop when he struck Mrs Williams as she used the crossing.

Bradford Crown Court heard that he was driving his father's car at up to 45mph on the 30mph road and did not see the pensioner as she stepped out. Khan immediately admitted he was responsible and told police: "I saw her too late".

After hearing about Khan's academic success and charity work Judge Scott conceded that apart from the speed involved there were no other aggravating features in the case. A guideline case suggested that Khan could have faced a custodial sentence of about eight months, but his barrister Mohammed Latif urged the judge to draw back from locking up his client.

"This is a tragedy where two families have to face the consequences of the actions of this young man," he said.

"It has had a massive impact on him as undoubtedly it has had on others.

His father is beating himself up because he let his son use his car. He regrets it but he had passed his test."

Mr Latif submitted a series of references in support of Khan and argued that a non-custodial sentence would not be inappropriate. The teenager had passed the first year of his A-levels and planned to go on to university.

Judge Scott conceded that Khan, who had no previous convictions, was genuinely remorseful. "I think if you had been on your own the accident would not have taken place because you would have had 100 per cent concentration on the road ahead," he told Khan.

"But you were distracted by conversation and music and you allowed your speed to go up on a wide, straight road to 40 to 45mph."

Judge Scott described the letter sent to him on behalf of Mrs Williams's family as "a very Christian document".

"They leave, as they are obliged to do, the sentence entirely to me," he said,

"They make no comment about the sentence, whether it is custodial or non-custodial, save and except they want justice whatever that means.

"But I think, in my view, here they will get justice. They may not agree with it but they will get justice."

Judge Scott banned Khan from driving for the next two years and he will have to take an extended test before lawfully getting behind the wheel again.

Judge Scott told him: "You are a fortunate young man. Fortunate because of your friends and your references and for the Christian attitude the deceased's family has shown towards you, a Muslim."

Mrs Williams was a popular figure at the Sunbridge Road Mission in Bradford.

Speaking after the hearing Mrs Moore, 54, of Shelf, said: "My mum worked tirelessly with the church she went to and particularly with young people. I wrote the letter to the judge because that's what my mum and dad would have expected and what they would want to say.

"All my mum would want to know is that someone is going to make the best use of their life. I accept what the judge has given."

Mrs Moore, who spoke briefly to Khan after the case, said she had no plans to meet him again.

Also speaking after the case, Khan said: "I am really sorry. I regret what I did."