A GRANDMOTHER who had “so much more to give” was killed on Mother’s Day by a driver who took part in an eight-hour drug taking session the night before causing the fatal crash.

Natalie Roach, 30, was jailed for six years for two counts of causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit of drugs. Roach admitted both offences at Dorchester Crown Court. She also pleaded guilty to causing death by driving whilst unlicensed but was not sentenced for this offence.

Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting, told the court how the case related to a head-on-collision on the A35 at around 2.35pm on March 15 last year on Raymonds Hill near Lyme Regis. The crash resulted in the death of a passenger in the other car, Stella Osborn.

Roach of North Avenue, Lyme Regis, and Mrs Osborn’s husband, Neil, were seriously injured in the crash. Mrs Osborn, 59, was from Louth, in Lincolnshire.

The court heard how markings on the road showed that Roach, who was driving west towards Honiton, had swerved in to the opposite carriageway colliding with the car. Markings also showed how Roach had tried to swerve back across the carriageway but it was too late.

The court heard how Roach told police in an interview how between 9pm the night before and 5am on the morning of the crash she had taken cannabis, heroin and cocaine. When her blood was tested after the crash she was found to be 10 times over the limit for Benzoylecgonine, the metabolic agent in cocaine, and was also over the prescribed-limit for cannabis.

Mrs Osborn’s family told the court of the impact the death had caused on the lives of themselves and her grandchildren.

Mr Osborn also spoke about how the injuries he had suffered in the crash had “significantly” changed his quality of life and that the pain of losing his wife will “never, ever disappear”.

The crash took place on Mother’s Day.

Speaking in court, Mrs Osborn’s daughter, Joanne Greenwood said told how that morning she text her to say she loved her and to wish her a happy Mother’s Day.

She said: “The next time I saw her was in the mortuary.

“That image will never leave me as won’t the pain at never getting the chance to say goodbye.

“They (Mrs Osborn’s grandchildren) miss her so much.

“She had so much more to give, she was the main cog in our family and always had been, she always put others before herself.

“We are left with a huge gap in our lives.”

Her son, Richard Whitehouse, also spoke and said that he was working that day and was going to let her know he was thinking of her when he got home and that it “hurts beyond words” that he never got the chance.

Charles Gabb, mitigating, spoke of Roach’s remorse for what had happened and that she knew there was no excuse. 

He also said that she was not aware her licence had been revoked.

Judge Jonathan Fuller, sentenced Roach to six years in prison for each of the offences, with the sentences to run concurrently.

She was also disqualified from driving for five years and told she would have to take an extended retest before getting her licence back.

DORSET Police hope the case acts as a deterrent to anyone who thinks it acceptable to drive under the influence of drink or drugs.

Sgt Joe Pardey, of Dorset Police’s Road Traffic Unit, said: “This case highlights that driving while intoxicated whether through alcohol or drugs has huge effects on a driver’s ability to drive carefully and competently.

“The consequences can be tragic. A family has lost a wife, mother, grandmother and friend and the effects of this collision will never go away. The death of Mrs Osborn was unnecessary and avoidable.

“While any sentence passed will never be enough to replace a life, I hope that the court’s decision will provide a further deterrent to those who think it is acceptable to drive under the influence of drink or drugs. 

“Dorset Police will continue to detect, enforce and charge those found to be committing drink and drug driving offences.”