Bus driver sentenced over death of pedestrian, 75

The incident happened on St James Road, in an area dominated by shops and a church

A bus driver who killed a 75-year-old woman after driving through a red light at a pedestrian crossing has been given a suspended sentence.

Timothy Pott, 55, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Brenda Hawes by dangerous driving in the St James area of Northampton a year ago.

He was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment, suspended for 16 months at Northampton Crown Court.

Ms Hawes' husband of 55 years told the court it was "almost unbearable at times to live in our home on my own".

The court heard that Pott, of Ecton Park Road in Northampton, was driving a single-decker Stagecoach bus along St James Road at about 08:30 GMT on 26 February 2024 when he failed to stop at a red light.

The vehicle hit Ms Hawes, who was walking on a pedestrian crossing on her way to the charity shop where she volunteered.

Northamptonshire Police said she died at the scene "despite the efforts of the emergency services".

Pott was driving a single-decker Stagecoach bus when he hit Ms Hawes

In his victim impact statement, her husband said: "I still have times when my emotions take over. I miss her, our love and companionship in the 60 years since I met her at ballroom and old-time dancing lessons.

"We continued dancing until she died – going to tea dances twice a week.

"We all miss her greatly for her love and helpfulness. She worked at the RVS shop at Northampton General Hospital for 17 years and did voluntary work at three charity shops at various times."

'Almost unbearable without her'

He said that he had decided to sell their house as it was "almost unbearable at times" to be there without her.

Alongside his suspended jail sentence, Pott was also ordered to undertake 240 hours of unpaid work and complete 10 rehabilitation days.

He was disqualified from driving for five years and will have to undertake an extended retest when the ban ends.

Det Con Lee Norton, from Northamptonshire Police, said: "No sentence will ever make up for Brenda's death and I hope Timothy Pott is aware that his driving that day failed to meet the standard required and his lapse of concentration, no matter how brief it may have been, has left a family devastatingly heartbroken."