Speeding driver who killed Boosbeck mother in hit-and-run is jailed

Jonathan Strang was speeding along Boosbeck Road, Skelton Green, at 10.45pm on Sunday, June 19, last year, when he ploughed into Justine Wedgwood as she crossed the road.

The 34-year-old ‘panicked’ and drove away from the scene before his silver Volvo XC90 was recovered after being abandoned in West Yorkshire.

Members of the 50-year-old’s family spoke of the devastating impact of her loss when Strang appeared at Teesside Crown Court for sentence.

Read more: New dad avoids prison after friend drove 4x4 into shop following dog food row

Ms Wedgwood left behind three children, three grandchildren, a brother and a father.

Justine Wedgwood

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said the victim was leaving the Miners Arms when she was struck by Strang’s speeding Volvo and carried for some distance on the vehicle’s bonnet.

The court heard how Strang failed to stop following the collision and continued driving towards Guisborough before leaving east Cleveland and abandoning the car in West Yorkshire.

Mr Sabiston read out the victim impact statement on behalf of the grieving family, they said: “To this day, we are completely devastated. The driver had fled the scene, and for two days was nowhere to be found.

“How could he just leave her like that? Why should he not have to suffer the devastating flashbacks that we had?

“He was found in Leeds, cowardly trying to evade justice while we were trying to come to terms with what had happened. She was everything to us.

“The whole situation was made worse by the driver fleeing the scene.”

They added: “He was too cowardly to stop and help. We are learning to live without mam. We hope to get some kind of closure after today’s sentencing.

“We know it won’t bring mam back – mam didn’t deserve this and our family didn’t deserve this.”

Jonathan Strang (Image: Cleveland Police)

Strang, of Valley Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Rod Hunt, mitigating, said there was nothing in could say on behalf of his client that could dampen the pain and suffering of Ms Wedgwood’s family and accepted that driving away from the scene was an aggravating factor for Strang.

He said: “He panicked; he put himself first, he shouldn’t have and he has put it as right as he can in the circumstances by pleading guilty.”

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Strang to three years and three months in prison after admitting the offence.

Read next:

• Two people in court in connection with the death of County Durham toddler
• How off-duty 'superhero' cops help save the life of collapsed jogger
• Promising North East footballer robbed his grandmother to fund his cocaine habit

​Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here

“When she stepped into the road, she moved into the path of your fast-moving car. I can’t be certain of your exact speed at the time but you must have been driving in excess of 54mph at the time of the collision,” he said.

“You were driving far too fast and everybody knows that you didn’t intend to harm Justine Wedgwood but anyone watching your driving that night would have realised that driving at that speed in a residential area that a pedestrian might step into the road, you wouldn’t be able to react; you wouldn’t be able to stop.”

Strang was also banned from driving for three years, commencing after his release from custody.