Drink drug driver jailed after death of Harrogate woman

A 29-year-old man has pleaded guilty at York Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving and driving over the prescribed limit for both alcohol and cannabis.

Simeon Denny from Pontefract in West Yorkshire was sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment for causing the death of 50-year-old Harrogate woman Carol Jones, by dangerous driving. He was also banned from the roads for six and a half years.

On August 14 2016, Denny drove his BMW 1 series at high speed through a red light at the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road in Harrogate.

He collided with a blue ford Fiesta, driven by 50-year-old Carol Jones, who was travelling to work at Harrogate Police Station, where she worked as a member of police staff. Denny’s car struck Mrs Jones car side on, killing her instantly.

Through detailed investigation conducted by the North Yorkshire Police's Major Collision Investigation Team, police found that Denny did not make any attempt to brake before the collision, resulting in him hitting Mrs Jones vehicle at a speed of 60mph.

Following the fatal collision, alcohol and drug tests were carried out which found Denny to be nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol and over the legal limit for cannabis.