A 64-year-old man who pleaded guilty to causing the death of a Soham woman death by dangerous driving has been jailed for seven years.
Nelson Curtis, of High Street, Lakenheath, had been speeding on the A11 at Barton Mills in November last year when he was involved in an accident with another car being driven by 22-year-old Soham woman Lauren Danks, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
Miss Danks died as a result of the injuries she suffered.
Curtis pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving, failing to stop after a collision and failing to report a collision during his appearance at Ipswich Crown Court, and this afternoon was sentenced for seven years.
The court heard that he had drunk an excessive amount of alcohol before setting foot behind the wheel, and that he had been driving at 124mph on the A11.
At the point of the crash he had been braking but was still travelling at 104mph.
The 64-year-old will serve at least half of that behind bars.
He was also given a driving ban, and must take an extended retest after the eight-and-a-half year ban has been served.
Following the sentencing, chief inspector David Giles from Suffolk police gave an interview to this publication (see video), and described Curtis’ actions as “reckless almost beyond belief”.
He added: “To drive a car at such excessive speed, having consumed a large amount of alcohol shows a total and utter disregard for everybody else on the road. Failure to stop and report the collision compounded the distress of those affected.”
Miss Danks was a beauty therapist at the Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs in Elveden.
Following her death floral tributes were left at the dual carriageway’s roadside – with angel wings and a tiara added to balloons, flowers, cards and a picture of Lauren.
Her parents Robert and Claire, and her three brothers, said they were left devastated by her death.
One of their posts on Facebook, read: “Lauren, we miss you so much. You are our heart, our soul, our life. Mummy, Daddy, Kieran, Bobby and Jayden. We love you so very, very much. Sleep tight our precious angel xxxxx.”
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