Retired businessman, 82, who killed companion after driving at ‘extreme’ velocity round blind bend is spared jail

An 82-year-old man who caused the death of his partner by driving too fast as he approached a blind bend avoided jail today.

Retired company director Raymond Bayfield was in a hired Ford Fiesta with Carole Jermy when he approached the sharp curve in the unfamiliar car and left the road before careering into a ditch.

The vehicle ended up lying on the passenger side and Ms Jermy, 67, died of her injuries in hospital the following day.

Although Bayfield was driving at 47mph, which was within the speed limit at the spot in Besthorpe, Norfolk, magistrates were told it was too fast for the bend.

He turned up at court today to be sentenced after admitting causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving at a previous hearing.

But his victim’s family criticised the pensioner, who arrived with his new girlfriend, saying an apology he delivered through his lawyer was the first time they had heard any contrition.

After he received a suspended eight-month jail term, Ms Jermy’s daughter, Kelly Radford, said: ‘We still do not know the circumstances of what happened.

‘There were two people in that accident that knew what happened. One of them is not here to tell us and the other one is claiming that he can’t remember.

‘Today was the first time we have had an apology, even if it was through someone else.’

Bayfield, who used to be director of a string of firms involved in the freight transport and truck sales or hire sector, was driving the hired car on the morning of September 25, 2023.

He and Ms Jermy – with whom he had had an on/off relationship for 17 years – were less than a mile from a dog grooming parlour with her pet in the back.

Norwich Magistrates Court was told that when he lost control the driving conditions were good but he failed to slow sufficiently for the sharp bend in the road.

Over a dozen family members of the defendant and victim attended the hearing, where Bayfield, of Old Buckenham, near Attleborough in Norfolk, was also banned from driving for three years and told he had to take an extended test before taking to the roads again.

Describing the crash, prosecutor Sarah Fiddy said: ‘Mr Bayfield was the driver, taking his partner to the dog groomers.

‘Weather conditions were good. It was a single-track road with passing places and at the junction of School Lane the road goes left. There, it is 1.5km from the dog groomers.

‘He failed to negotiate the left-hand bend at the junction with School Lane. He left the road and went into a ditch. The car comes to rest on the near side.

‘[Carole] sustained serious injuries as a result of that collision and died the following day, on September 26, 2023.

‘The post-mortem result showed multiple injuries particularly to the chest due to the road traffic collision.

‘There were no defects in the road.’

The prosecutor added: ‘An investigator was unable to complete a drive above 45mph. They found it to be excessive for the road layout, a blind bend.

‘Mr Bayfield said the little dog was a distraction. Witnesses said the dog was in the back of the vehicle.’

Addressing the court, Bayfield’s barrister, Tim Pole, said: ‘I will publicly apologise on behalf of Mr Bayfield for the sorrow and pain he’s caused. It was never his intention to do so.

‘People react to loss and grief in many ways. He had a long-standing relationship with Ms Jermy and he, too, is affected by the loss.

‘This tragedy is the last thing to cross his mind at night and the first thing to enter his mind in the morning. That will be there for the rest of his days.

‘The thoughts of everyone in this case are with the family of Ms Jermy.’

District Judge Matthew Bone told Bayfield: ‘This is a very sad case. As a result of your careless driving a much-loved mum, mother-in-law, and nan lost her life. Nothing this court can say or do will make that right. 

‘I do extend my condolences to Carole’s family and friends. You have all borne your loss with such dignity.’

The judge added: ‘I know that you accept driving carelessly. However, you have been unable to give any of us a clear account of what happened.

‘I acknowledge you were driving a vehicle you were unfamiliar with… I take it as a very serious matter that you were carrying a person who lost their life.

‘I accept that you are remorseful and of course the victim was someone who had a close relationship with yourself.’

The sentence was suspended because of mitigating factors including Bayfield’s clean driving licence, which he’d held since he was 17 with no endorsements.

The court heard that Ms Jermy’s dog, Dudley, remained terrified of being in a car following the accident.

Bayfield, smartly dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and tie and with an enamel Union Jack badge on his lapel, black patent shoes and carrying a racing green overnight bag, showed no emotion as the daughters and grandchildren of his late partner read victim impact statements in court.

The judge made an order that school cleaner Ms Jermy’s teenage grandchildren should not be named.

One granddaughter said: ‘Nanny was enjoying retirement and I was enjoying spending more time with her.

‘I don’t think the word heartbroken is strong enough to say the way I feel. I miss hearing nanna and mummy laughing on the phone.

‘The only thing that cheers me is having Dudley because we know how much she loved him.’

Her grandson told the court: ‘Whenever I think of my nanny, I always want to cry and hug her. I always think about her from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep.’

Another granddaughter added: ‘The heartbreaking grief I have experienced in the last few years is indescribable.’

Bayfield declined to comment as he left court.

One of his family members said: ‘Our thoughts are with her [Ms Jermy’s] family. Losing a mum is the most terrible thing.

‘I hope the result gives them a respite from what they’re going through but nothing can ever change it.’

Ms Radford added: ‘At the end of the day, nothing seems enough for what’s happened but the law is the law.’

Detective Constable Nic Metcalf, who attended the hearing, said: ‘This is a tragic incident. Mrs Jermy’s life has been lost by driving carelessly.’