Darlington drink driver jailed again after woman died

Lewis Heslop was jailed for nealry four years in 2016 after pleading guilty to a string of driving offences which left Monica Lewandowska with severe brain injuries from which she never regained consciousness.

The Attorney General granted permission for the 33-year-old to be charged with causing death by dangerous driving after the mother-of-two passed away in June 2022, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Ms Lewandowska was on the pavement of Easson Road, Darlington, when the silver Hyundai Coupe, being driven by Heslop, left the road, flipped over, and crashed into parked vehicles and a house before hitting the grandmother.

The devastating scene of the crash in Easson Road, Darlington.

Jonathan Walker, prosecting, said Heslop was three times over the legal drink drive limit at the time of the incident on Monday, June 13, 2016, and was travelling at twice the speed limit.

He said the defendant had been drinking for the entire weekend before taking his friend’s car without permission and racing off at speed and witnesses told how they heard the engine revving loudly seconds before impact.

“The deceased was immediately thrown onto the bonnet of the vehicle, her head striking the windscreen,” he said.

“The Hyundai had collided with a no parking sign which had launched it onto its side causing the vehicle to collide with the front of a house.”

A recovery truck removing the car from Easson Street, Darlington.

Mr Walker said Ms Lewandowska was assisted by local residents but she slipped into unconsciousness on her way to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

He said the 44-year-old passed away in a care home six years later without ever regaining consciousness.

The 33-year-old, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving following his arrest in December last year.

Lewis Heslop (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Matthew Cullen, mitigating, said the father-of-one had been released from prison in 2018 and had committed no further driving offences in that time.

He told the judge that his client had been in court for a number of unrelated matters before he was re-arrested.

“He took full responsibility for his actions, making no attempt to apportion blame anywhere but at his own door, he said.

“In his pre-sentence report, he is described as remorseful and regretful. He has shown an insight into how the family must feel.”

Judge Howard Crowson sentenced Heslop to a further three years and 11 months on top of the four years the defendant had already served.

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“You were entirely to blame, the car had no fault and you were driving too quickly while more than three times over the legal limit for driving,” he said.

“You do bear a high responsibility for Monica’s death, you took the deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road, taking a friend’s car in a state of intoxication which showed a remarkable disregard to the dangers and risks of others.

“Your driving was highly impaired by the consumption of that alcohol and your speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit.”

Heslop was told he would be banned from driving for five years after he released from custody and must take an extended driving test.