TEESSIDE SCAFFOLDER
Well-known member
Woman jailed for car chase death
By HARRY HAYDON
Published: Today
A JEALOUS girlfriend who mowed down and killed a man while in a car chase with her lover who she thought was cheating has been jailed.
Teacher Claire Johnson, 25, from Southampton, was sentenced to two years behind bars after pleading guilty to causing the death of scaffolder Matthew Bailey, 22, by dangerous driving.
The court heard that Johnson suspected boyfriend, Russell Bennett, 24, was having an affair, and had staked out the Mexican restaurant where he worked.
When she saw him drive off with a woman in his car at 2am, she followed him.
Bennett, driving a Ford Focus, became aware of his girlfriend pursuing him in her BMW Mini and drove through three red lights in a bid to get away from her.
As the two cars sped along a road in Portsmouth, Hants, Bennett's car missed Mr Bailey as he attempted to cross the road with some friends after a night out.
But he was hit seconds later by Johnson as she also ignored the traffic signals, on November 21 last year.
The court heard that Johnson got out of her car and tried to resuscitate Mr Bailey, of Portsmouth, but he died as a result of the accident.
Speaking to the Portsmouth News after the hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on December 2, Mr Bailey's mother, Anne Hayes, said: "He was so happy with his new job and full of plans for the future.
"Thinking of all the things he will never do and all the times he won't be there is just unbearable."
Bennett, from Birmingham, was sentenced to 14 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
By HARRY HAYDON
Published: Today
A JEALOUS girlfriend who mowed down and killed a man while in a car chase with her lover who she thought was cheating has been jailed.
Teacher Claire Johnson, 25, from Southampton, was sentenced to two years behind bars after pleading guilty to causing the death of scaffolder Matthew Bailey, 22, by dangerous driving.
The court heard that Johnson suspected boyfriend, Russell Bennett, 24, was having an affair, and had staked out the Mexican restaurant where he worked.
When she saw him drive off with a woman in his car at 2am, she followed him.
Bennett, driving a Ford Focus, became aware of his girlfriend pursuing him in her BMW Mini and drove through three red lights in a bid to get away from her.
As the two cars sped along a road in Portsmouth, Hants, Bennett's car missed Mr Bailey as he attempted to cross the road with some friends after a night out.
But he was hit seconds later by Johnson as she also ignored the traffic signals, on November 21 last year.
The court heard that Johnson got out of her car and tried to resuscitate Mr Bailey, of Portsmouth, but he died as a result of the accident.
Speaking to the Portsmouth News after the hearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on December 2, Mr Bailey's mother, Anne Hayes, said: "He was so happy with his new job and full of plans for the future.
"Thinking of all the things he will never do and all the times he won't be there is just unbearable."
Bennett, from Birmingham, was sentenced to 14 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.
