A SEIZURE suffering pensioner who crashed into and killed a holidaymaker before careering into other cars has been jailed.
Dennis Frederick Valentine, 77 and of Library Road, Ferndown, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving after killing pedestrian David Fox, 73, following a crash in Victoria Road in Ferndown on Tuesday, September 22, 2020.
A hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, January 30, 2023, heard how Valentine had an extensive history of cognitive impairments and had been advised by neurological specialists on several occasions to review his driving.
Mr Fox, a “kind, loving family man” from Bicester, was caravanning with his wife in Dorset when he walked to Ferndown Post Office to buy a newspaper. After doing so, he exited the shop and proceeded to cross the road.
Meanwhile Valentine, who was driving his Citroen C3 southbound, was said to have increased his speed shortly before striking Mr Fox who was “[thrown] into the air” as a result of the collision.
Prosecuting, Tim Bradbury, said Mr Fox was “only a few steps away” from reaching the pavement when he was struck by Valentine who was travelling at approximately 49mph in the 30mph limit road.
The bonnet of Valentine’s car then “flew up” and he crossed into the opposite lane at speed before hitting an oncoming vehicle, mounting the kerb, rear-ending another vehicle and finally crashing into a signpost.
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Mr Fox, a former NHS worker who had celebrated his granddaughter’s 15th birthday two days prior, suffered fatal skull and spinal fractures and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Attending police officers described Valentine as “in a state of confusion and shock”.
The court heard Valentine had been suffering with numerous cognitive impairments – namely focal unaware seizures – for at least a decade and had early symptoms of dementia.
One neurologist was quoted as saying he would have been advised to breach confidentiality and inform the DVLA of Valentine’s seizures but he did not see him again after an appointment in 2013.
In a victim impact statement read by Mr Bradbury, the victim’s wife of nearly 48 years Helen Fox said her “world collapsed” when she was informed of her husband’s death. “I’m still waiting for Dave to come home for lunch,” she said.
His son Howard Fox added: “The day you killed my dad has changed me. I still have nightmares about it to this day. You didn’t just kill my dad, you killed my best friend.”
Kevin Hill, mitigating, said his client “acknowledges the impact that this has had on the family of Mr Fox” and “his remorse is very genuine”. He also voluntarily surrendered his licence after the crash.
Sentencing, Judge William Mousley KC, said: “I’ve been taken through your medical history and it would appear… that you were informed on more than one occasion of your obligation to inform the DVLA.
“It is probable that your driving was brought about by a seizure as a result of a long standing pre-existing medical condition – of which you should have been aware at the time.”
Valentine, who had no previous convictions, was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment.
He was also disqualified from driving for two years and 15 weeks, however Judge Mousley KC added: “It is quite clear you will not drive again.”
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