Drunk driver jailed for killing woman in Mother's Day crash

Declan Jake Jackson has been jailed for causing the death of a woman in a crash on Mother's Day

A man has been jailed for seven years for causing the death of a woman in a Mother's Day car crash.

Declan Jake Jackson, 32, from Frome, admitting causing the death of Jossette Kemery, 41, on 19 March last year.

Jackson was driving a black Peugeot 207, with Ms Kemery as a passenger, when the crash happened on the A371 near Castle Cary in Somerset.

He had been disqualified from driving just five days before as a result of previous drink-driving incidents.

'Life fell apart'

Another woman whose vehicle was involved in the collision received "life-changing" injuries.

Jackson was found to have about two-and-a-half times the legal limit for alcohol in his bloodstream, as well as the active ingredient of cannabis.

Ms Kemery's mother said: "My whole life completely fell apart."

She said her daughter did not get to meet three of her new grandchildren and every Mother's Day will be the "saddest day of my life".

Jossette Kemery died in the crash near Castle Cary

At a court hearing, Jackson admitted causing death through careless driving whilst over the prescribed limit for alcohol, causing serious injury through careless driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He was jailed for seven years and nine months for the crash in which he was also seriously injured.

Taunton Crown Court Judge Paul Cook, who was sitting in North Somerset Magistrates Court, said he took into account Jackson's early guilty plea.

He also took into account Jackson's ongoing problems with alcohol, adding that the decision to drink and drive had "devastating" consequences resulting in a "catastrophic" collision.

He also handed Jackson a 10 year driving ban.