THE driver responsible for causing the death of a woman, who had a “pure, unadulterated energy”, has been jailed.

Daniel Jamie Samways, 37, of Dean Lane, Sixpenny Handley, pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention and while over the legal limit of benzoylecgonine – the main metabolite of cocaine.

He was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Cotter told the court that on February 1, 2020, Samways was driving along the B3081 near Sixpenny Handley when a crash occurred between a VW Up BlueMotion, a black Audi A3 and a green Isuzu Pick-up being driven by Samways.

The driver of the VW Up, 37-year-old Ella Cooper from Ringwood, was taken to Southampton General Hospital with life-threatening injuries, she died on February 7.

The court heard how Samways had 52 micrograms of benzoylecgonine per 100ml of blood in his system, the legal limit is 50 micrograms. He had also had two pints of lager that day but was not intoxicated.

Mr Cotter said: “Witness Stewart Wildman saw the car begin to straddle the line on the centre of the road. He thought that covered a distance of 20 to 30 metres.

“During this time, he observed a vehicle come in the opposite direction.”

Mr Cotter said Mr Wildman did not see Samways brake and the car was “allowed to drift”.

The court heard how the car hit the red VW Up, driven by Ms Cooper, and the Audi behind Ms Cooper, containing a family of four, could not avoid the collision.

Ms Cooper had been out with her fiancé David Oliver and were driving to take flowers to her father’s grave.

Mr Cotter continued: “They spent part of the day planning their forthcoming wedding.

“Mr Oliver said nothing unusual happened on the drive. He bent down to adjust the flowerpot when he heard Ella take a sharp intake of breath. He saw her brake and said she didn’t have time to do anything.

“Mr Oliver was knocked unconscious. When he returned to consciousness, he saw Ella not moving, he felt a feint pulse. He removed himself from the car and his legs gave way.

“He became profoundly concerned for Ella. He asked to see her, he was afraid this would be the last time he would see her.”

A victim impact statement read by Mr Oliver described Ella as a “life-changer to many” and said she had a “pure, unadulterated energy”.

Mr Cotter said the Crown considered the case “momentary inattention” and it wasn’t clear if the drugs and alcohol impaired Samways.

He added: “This has caused inordinate harm. The aggravating feature in this case is the harm caused.”

Mitigating, Nick Robinson said: “He thinks he lost attention because he fell asleep at the wheel.”

The defendant “unreservedly” apologises to the victims, he added, and he “can’t look at his two young daughters without thinking of the families in this case”.

Mr Robinson asked the court to “show mercy”, for Samways family who are dependant on him.

Judge Brian Forster QC sentenced Samways to 16 months imprisonment for causing death by driving without due care and attention and two months for driving while over the limit of benzoylecgonine, to run concurrently. He was also banned from driving for two years.

Judge Forster said: “[Ella] was a woman who had many positive qualities. Someone who was a great communicator, described as an incredible person.

“On that day she had been working on planning her wedding. [Mr Oliver] has described a special person and said he has lost his future.

“You offered no explanation for what had happened, but on reflection you feel you may have fallen asleep. No one can know precisely.

“No sentence can compensate you as a family for your loss.”