Driver who showed ‘very little remorse’ after killing elderly couple in head-on crash has been jailed

A Leicester driver killed an ‘extraordinary’ elderly couple in a head-on crash while using his phone at the wheel. Patricia Pringle showed “very little remorse” for her actions after the collision, police said.

Pringle, of Park Vale Road, Spinney Hills, was driving a blue Volkswagen Golf on the A47 at Barrowden in Rutland in May 2022 when the car crossed into the opposite side of the road and collided with a silver Fiat Qubo. The impact killed the occupants of the Fiat, Clive Jones, 89, and his wife Elaine, 82. Pringle, then 54, was hospitalized with a broken arm.

Investigations by Leicestershire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) soon uncovered problems with Pringle’s driving. Eyewitnesses claimed Pringle implied she was on her phone at the time of the crash. Police found evidence that she was making a phone call at the time of the fatal incident.

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Pringle was later charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving – but officers said she showed “little remorse” for her actions. In May this year, Pringle admitted the two charges, as well as one count of possession of Class B cannabis. She appeared at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday, June 21) where she received a nine-year sentence of prison.

The court also banned Pringle, 56, from driving for five years. The ban will take effect after her release. Pringle will have to pass an extended retest before he can get behind the wheel again.

Clive and Elaine’s children paid tribute to the Uppingham couple following Pringe’s sentencing, saying their deaths were “completely avoidable”. They said: “Our parents were extraordinary people. Each day was lived to the fullest. Both had such wide and varied interests, belonging to and leading a variety of different groups and societies. They also warmly welcomed everyone to their home.

“The shock, horror and disbelief of their deaths remains with so many people – their family, their friends and their community. The police have been working for over two years to bring justice to the totally avoidable murder of our parents.”

The family said the couple met and married in Malaya in the 1960s. “Mr Jones’ incredible knowledge of the geology of Malaya, Iran and Botswana was rewarded not only by the Malaysian government with an Order of the Defender of the Kingdom (Ahli Mangku Negara or AMN ), but also by the British Government with an OBE”. they added.

The family added: “As a family we will never know how they died, the extent of their injuries and the trauma of being told of their deaths and the days, months and years that followed. The years they had left were stolen from them and from us. We never got a chance to say goodbye. We miss them every day and in so many ways.”

Detective Constable Emma Mitchell, of the SCIU, said: “Throughout the investigation, Pringle appeared to show very little remorse for her actions. However, I’m glad he dealt with what he did.

“There is a reason why using a mobile phone while driving can result in points on your licence. I would like to think that this case serves as a stark warning to road users who find it acceptable to make their actions have fatal consequences.”

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