Speeding driver who killed grandmother, 82, jailed

Trent Simm admitted causing death by dangerous driving

A speeding driver who lost control of his car on a bend at 118mph and killed an 82-year grandmother in a head-on crash has been jailed.

Police said Trent Simm treated the road as his "private race track" when he hit Doris Bridgehouse's car in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on 13 May 2022.

Mrs Bridgehouse was driving her daughter and grandson home after visiting his university showcase.

Simm admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

The 25-year-old of Edenfield Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to seven years and four months at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

The court heard Simm was driving his Audi S3 at nearly four times the 30mph (48kmh) speed limit along Halifax Road.

He lost control as he hit a left-hand bend and veered into the opposite lane, hitting Mrs Bridgehouse's Kia Venga that she was driving at 28mph at about 22:55 BST.

Doris Bridgehouse died at the scene

The retired nurse was killed instantly while her daughter and grandson suffered serious injuries.

CCTV and forensic evidence confirmed Simm's loss of control was inevitable.

Sgt Louise Warhurst, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "What had started out as a special celebratory occasion for Doris and her family ended in tragedy.

"Trent Simm was treating the public highway as his personal racetrack, reaching astonishing speeds.

"He had no regard whatsoever for the safety of all other members of the public."

'Dreadful memories'

In a statement read in court Mrs Bridgehouse's daughter Amanda said Simm had given her son Max "the most dreadful, shocking, and incomprehensible memories and had a catastrophic impact on both my son's lives".

"You have robbed me and my sons of 'goodbye' to mum and nan," she said.

"This is very difficult, and you are going to have to live with your actions for the rest of your life

"As much as you have destroyed the dynamics of our family, I think you have also destroyed a part of your own and your family's.

"I do not feel sorry for you at all. Driving at those speeds you are liable to kill someone, and you did."

Simm must also serve a five-year ban on his release from jail.

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