Woman avoids jail over death of arena attack hero

Jacqueline Higson received a 12-month suspended sentence

A woman who admitted causing the death of a motorcyclist hailed as a hero in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing has avoided jail.

Jacqueline Higson previously pleaded guilty to causing the death of 54-year-old Darron Coster by careless driving near Skipton in North Yorkshire on 14 July 2021.

Higson, 65, was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday.

Judge Jonathan Rose said it was "not possible to pass a sentence which will in any way prove adequate nor capable of compensating for the loss of life of Darron Coster".

Darron Coster rushed to the aid of casualties injured in the Manchester bombing in 2017

Mr Coster, from Accrington in Lancashire, was a Royal Military Police veteran and used his training to treat casualties at the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017.

In a victim impact statement read to the court at Higson's sentencing, his wife Alison said her husband had been out test driving "a bike he had dreamed of" when he collided with Higson on Jack Lane, between the villages of Rathmell and Wigglesworth.

'Inevitable and tragic'

The court heard Higson, who was on her way to lunch with her brother and aunt, had driven on the wrong side of the undulating road to overtake a cyclist without being able to see what was coming in the opposite lane.

Judge Rose said Mr Coster was also unable to see what was coming in the opposite direction.

"The outcome was inevitable and certainly tragic."

Mrs Coster, who was in court for the sentencing, paid tribute to her partner and husband of 27 years.

"I loved Darren with my whole heart. He was my soul mate, my forever, my world.

"I miss him more than I can put into words. I will never be the same again."

The couple's son Charlie was 24 when his dad died and now has a son of his own, one-year-old Henry.

Mrs Coster said her bike enthusiast husband, who was a member of display teams, "should be here now, sitting Henry on his bikes and teaching him all there is to know".

Mr Coster shared his love of bikes with his brother-in-law Ian, who described him as his "best friend" who was "good at everything he did".

"I want so desperately to pick up the phone to him. The lessons in life Darron gave me were just everything to me."

Mr Coster's sister Debra said her brother "chose to live his life with fun, love and spirit".

Darron Coster's sister-in-law Tracy Norlund (left) and widow Alison Coster outside Bradford Crown Court

Mr Coster was hailed as a "hero" at an inquiry into the Manchester atrocity.

Twenty-two people were killed and hundreds injured when a suicide bomber detonated his device at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.

Mr Coster had served in Northern Ireland, where he gained experience of blast injuries, and was able to apply tourniquets to victims.

He was also the person who closed the doors to the scene to protect onlookers from trauma.

After leaving the Army, Mr Coster worked in training and development for a road haulage firm and as a mechanic in professional motorsport.

'Absolutely devastated'

Mitigating, John Dye said Higson was "extremely remorseful" for "a moment of misjudgement".

"It's on her conscience on a daily basis. She is absolutely devastated."

The hearing was told she had held a full, clean driving licence for 43 years and had worked as a carer for 37 years, a role she still worked in on a part-time basis.

She also had caring responsibilities for her 91-year-old mother and 67-year-old brother, who had learning difficulties.

Judge Rose said even a short period of imprisonment would have a "marked and substantial impact" on both.

He also cited the "many references" which told of Higson's "positive good character" when passing sentence, as well as the "quite obvious" prospect of rehabilitation.

Judge Rose told her: "The damage you have caused is irreparable.

"You should have exercised patience and waited to overtake."

Higson, of Robinson Street, Chatburn, Lancashire, was also sentenced to 180 hours of unpaid work and banned from driving for two years.

She must also pay a victim surcharge and was told she would go to jail for 12 months if she committed another offence in the next two years.

Judge Rose said her punishment was "in no way" intended as a "reflection of the life of Darron Coster", but rather the sentencing guidelines available to him.

Mr Coster's family were in court for the sentencing

Speaking after sentencing, Mr Coster's brother-in-law said the punishment handed to Higson was "what we expected".

His wife Debra wore a T-shirt which read "Dangerous driving kills. Do you really need to get somewhere at the cost of someone's life?"

She urged drivers to “just think twice” when overtaking.

Mrs Coster added: “He always said that if anything ever happened to bikers 99% of the time if they are injured it’s the fault of the car driver.

“[As a biker] you are more aware of what’s going on because you are not inside a steel box.

“He was aware of what was going on around him but obviously he wouldn’t have expected her to pull out.”

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