JAILED: Powys danger driver killed pensioner in Middletown

Powys County Times

22-05-2025

A man who killed an 87-year-old woman while overtaking a bus by crossing double white lines on a notoriously dangerous stretch of road has been jailed for three years.
Margaret Lee suffered "catastrophic" injuries in the incident which she had "absolutely no chance to avoid" on the A458 in Middletown, near Welshpool on November 27, 2023.
Honda Civic driver Matthew Parrott, 42, from Kerry, near Newtown, was jailed at Mold Crown Court on Thursday (May 22) and banned from driving for six-and-a-half years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
Mrs Lee's family said they find it "so difficult to comprehend" how her life ended in "such a sudden and cruel way".
The 87-year-old had been driving from her home in Middletown towards Welshpool to collect newspapers for herself and her neighbours.
Shortly after 7.30am, a Honda Civic driven by Parrott, which was travelling in the opposite direction towards Shrewsbury, overtook a bus by crossing double white lines, slamming straight into Mrs Lee's red Ford Fiesta.
The court was told that the 50mph stretch of road warns drivers of hidden dips and to drive slowly for around 600 yards.
Barrister Mr Parry said the impact between both vehicles was "substantial" but Parrott was able to get out of his car while Margaret Lee was found unresponsive.
Defending barrister Dafydd Roberts said Parrott was "genuinely remorseful" and fully understood that "only one sentence could be passed today which is immediate imprisonment".
Mr Roberts continued: "He is struggling to come to terms with his actions which have resulted in the death of Margaret Lee.
"People who know him speak of a man in glowing terms. Someone who is very well thought of within work and successful in his career. He has clearly assisted many others in many ways and provided a great deal of assistance to his mother following the death of his father.
"He is someone who will never be before the court again. He will have learnt his error and mistake.
"He wanted to apologise directly to Margaret's family. That has been rejected at this stage understandably and he respects that. He would wish to engage in some form of restorative justice."
Judge Timothy Petts told the court that "no sentence can properly reflect the life that has been lost".
"It's clear Margaret was a well-loved member of the family and the last of her generation following the death of her brother, sister-in-law and partner Frank," the judge said.
"Having lived most of her life in Wigan, she made a new circle of friends in Powys. Despite her age she was independent and in good health.
"What happened that day was a tragic calamity for her friends and family. Her death was sudden, unexpected and unnecessary. Margaret's death has had a huge impact on the family.
"Every road traffic collision involves real human tragedies."
The judge added: "We've seen the CCTV footage of the collision; you pulled out on double white lines overtaking a bus without full visibility because of the hidden dips that were there for some time.
"It is clear that Margaret Lee had absolutely no chance to avoid what happened. There was no need to overtake. It was clearly unsafe to do so.
"It's only fair to you to say that the driver behind your vehicle said they had no previous issues with your driving that morning.
"It was clearly a dangerous manoeuvre although in a matter of seconds.
"You did not set out that morning to drive dangerously let alone kill anyone."