SENTENCING | Yesterday (Thursday, February 16) a man has been given a suspended sentence and disqualified from driving following a collision which killed a 65-year-old woman on Anglesey.
22-year-old Owen Stephen Whitehead of Llanrhuddlad, Holyhead, was given a 42-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months at Caernarfon Crown Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving due to condition.
Shortly after 4:30pm on the 25 February 2022, North Wales Police received a report of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the B5111 between Coedana and Llanerchymedd which involved a Nissan Nivara which was towing a mobile sheep dipping trailer and a Peugeot 208.
The Peugeot was being driven by 65-year-old Mrs Judith Pennington of Caer Delyn, Llanerchymedd, but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following a lengthy investigation which involved the Roads Policing Unit and Forensic Collision Investigation Unit, Whitehead – who was driving the Nissan, was charged with Dangerous Driving Contrary to Section 2 RTA 1988 due to the condition in which the trailer was being towed.
Sergeant Meurig Jones of the Roads Policing Unit said: “The investigation found that there were no operational brakes on the trailer, and it was designed to be towed by an agricultural tractor and nothing else.
“Whitehead didn’t have the correct category of entitlement on his driving licence to authorise him to tow the trailer. The investigation also discovered that there was no secondary coupling fixed to the trailer to prevent to it becoming detached if that main coupling fails.
“To hold a driving licence is a privilege and responsibility, especially for those who rely on our road networks to make a living. It is essential that drivers who tow are aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that their vehicle is roadworthy before commencing a journey, and that they have the correct category of licence.
“Our thoughts remain with Mrs Pennington’s family at this difficult time.”
Whitehead must also complete 15 days rehabilitation activity and 50 hours unpaid work. He has also been disqualified from driving for 12 months, and must pass an extended retest before he can drive again. A deprivation order was also made for the trailer, which Whitehead is also to pay a statutory surcharge.
Mrs Judith Pennington’s husband, Richard, has issued the following tribute: “Jude was my everything – my wife, my best friend, my life. She was a special sister to John and a dear friend and neighbour to so many, including Jane, Janet, Carol, Liz and Dyfrig. We all miss her and her positive spirit more than words can describe.
“Whilst no sentence will ever bring her back or come close to filling the enormous hole that’s been left in my life without her, almost a year after that fateful day when my life changed forever, it does give me some closure to be able to try and put all this behind me and live life the way I know Jude would want me to.
“I kindly ask to be left in peace and privacy as I continue to grieve Jude.”
Note: The damage on the Nissan’s front bumper was caused during a previous incident.
