Drunk driver Jake Waterhouse jailed after ploughing into campsite killing mother-of-two

A drunk-driver who killed a woman sleeping in her tent when he crashed into a campsite has been jailed for more than eight years.

Anna Evans, 46, was hit by 26-year-old Jake Waterhouse's car and spent eight days in hospital before she died from her injuries when he ploughed into a row of tents at two o'clock in the morning.

Mrs Evans had only just arrived at the campsite that evening with her husband.

Sion ap Migangel, prosecuting, told the court Waterhouse and friend Philip Eves had been drinking Jack Daniels and lager at the campsite on the evening of August 18th.

The mother of two was one of four people struck when Waterhouse, who was an uninsured driver, careered off the road into Rhyd y Galen, a 22-acre campsite near Caernarfon in the early hours of the morning of the following day.

The court heard five people lifted the car up to free Mrs Evans, who was unresponsive.

Waterhouse initially fled the scene, but after he rang his mother and she told him to do "the thing".

He did not have a licence or insurance to drive and also failed to provide a formal sample of breath whilst in police custody.

Following the incident, Mrs Evans never regained consciousness and died in Stoke hospital on the August 27th.

In a statement, her husband said her death had had an "emotional impact on all of the family" including her two children.

Waterhouse, of Partington, Greater Manchester, admitted causing death by dangerous driving, driving otherwise in accordance with a driving licence, driving without insurance and failing to provide a breath specimen.

Carys Parry, defending, told an earlier hearing that he "takes full responsibility for the devastating events at the campsite."

She added: "He is truly and deeply remorseful for his actions.

“His thoughts the last two days have been with the victim of his offending and her family.

“He accepts he is facing a lengthy sentence as a result of his actions.

“In his own words, he said: "I deserve to be punished.'"

Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed Waterhouse for eight years and four months and banned him from driving for 12 years at Mold Crown Court.

Sergeant Dafydd Curry of North Wales Police said: “This was a horrific incident, where the mindless actions of an individual have taken the life of an innocent person.”

Anna lived in Aberystwyth, West Wales, with her husband Huw, 57, who is a groundsman at the seaside town's university.

At the time of her death, her son Richard wrote: "Tonight I had to say goodbye to the most amazing woman I've ever known.

"It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. She was my mother, my best friend, my rock and I'm going to miss her so so much."