March 4th 2024.
Dianne Hopkins, a 77-year-old grandmother, found herself in a difficult situation when she accidentally struck a nine-year-old girl and her family's dog in a hit-and-run incident. She was recently banned from driving as a result of her actions.
It was a typical day for Hopkins as she was driving her Vauxhall Corsa on Birchfield Road in Widnes, Cheshire last November. However, she ran a red light and collided with the young girl who was walking with her mother and their pet dog. The girl suffered a fractured eye socket, multiple cuts, and bruises while the dog miraculously escaped unharmed.
When authorities finally tracked her down, Hopkins initially denied any knowledge of the incident. But when presented with evidence from CCTV and ANPR, she eventually pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident and driving without due care and attention. As a result, she was given a 12-month driving ban, fined £200, and ordered to pay £200 in costs and victim surcharge.
During her court hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court, Hopkins faced the possibility of a six-month jail sentence. When she was informed of her driving ban, she pleaded, "Oh, please don't. Where I live, there are no shops nearby. The nearest one is over a mile away."
According to prosecutor Kate Johnson, the incident occurred when the defendant's car collided with the family's dog, which then led to the child getting injured. The child suffered a fractured eye socket and a cut on her nose, which took eight weeks to heal. Through CCTV and ANPR investigations, authorities were able to identify Hopkins as the registered keeper of the vehicle and sent her a notice of intended prosecution.
During the hearing, Hopkins claimed that she did not remember hitting a child or a dog. Representing herself, she stated, "The first I heard of the accident is when the police came. I saw the footage and immediately recognized my car going around the roundabout. I was on my way to pick up my son from the station, something I do every night at the same time. I take him to the station at 8:30 every morning during the week."
She added, "I have lived in that area all my life, so I know it very well. I cannot believe what happened. There was no damage to my car, no mark at all, nothing. I know I did it, but I cannot understand how I did not stop at the red light."
Hopkins also shared that she drives over 100 miles per week, running errands for her son and her neighbor. She admitted that she loved driving and it was a real pleasure for her. She had only started driving at the age of 25 or 30 because she couldn't afford a car when she was younger.
In her sentencing, Justice of the Peace Karen Earnest addressed Hopkins and said, "Normally in offences of this nature, we would say it has crossed into what we call the community threshold, but we won't be looking to ask the probation service to work with you. We do not feel that there is anything that the probation service can do with you that you have not done yourself."
She also warned Hopkins not to drive while disqualified as it carries a custodial sentence. Instead, they opted to increase her fine as a consequence of her actions. Justice of the Peace Earnest added, "Unfortunately, there are consequences to offences like this, and disqualification is one of them. Do not drive while disqualified, that carries a custodial sentence."
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