Careless driver who did not realise he had mowed down and killed ‘hero’ milkman as a result of he was so distracted avoids jail
A careless driver who mowed down a beloved milkman after becoming ‘momentarily distracted’ has avoided jail.
Callan Howitt, 30, did not realise he had ploughed into Stuart Withers, 71, until he got out of his car on November 22, 2024 in Salisbury city centre.
Mr Withers had been delivering milk to the local community when he parked on the side of the road, half on the pavement, to take a delivery to an address, a court heard.
He had put his hazard lights under the low light at around 6am so he could be clearly visible.
Howitt saw Mr Withers’ van and slowed from 30mph to 25mph.
But as he approached the vehicle he became momentarily distracted by something out of his left window – braking around 0.7 seconds before the crash.
Howitt saw Mr Withers was hurt after exiting his vehicle so called the emergency services – but the milkman died of ‘catastrophic bleeding’.
He later told police it was his own fault he had become distracted, and admitted causing death by careless driving.
At Salisbury Magistrates’ Court today, Howitt avoided jail and was handed a suspended sentence.
Mr Withers had a close-knit family and ran the 90-year-old family milk business in the city.
He was also a keen antique collector and salesman – featuring on an episode of Bargain Hunt earlier this year which was dedicated to him after his passing.
His family described him as being ‘so kind’ that he would discount antiques before people could even begin to haggle.
Paying tribute, his wife Maureen Withers, 70, said: ‘I miss my wonderful husband every single day and I don’t know how I’m going to learn to live without him.
Stuart Withers (pictured) had been delivering milk to the local community when he parked on the side of the road, half on the pavement, to take a delivery to an address
Callan Howitt was described as a ‘family man’ whose partner Jessica was expecting their child. He is pictured here outside court
‘I never had the chance to say goodbye to my best friend and soul mate and I don’t think I can ever come to terms with that.
‘There will forever be a sadness in my heart and I will miss him until the day I die.’
The milkman was also a respected figure in grassroots football, acting as manager and then chairman of Shrewton United and Vice-Chairman of the Wiltshire Senior League.
At court today, Howitt was described as a ‘family man’ whose partner Jessica was expecting their child.
But Mr Withers’ daughter Bridget Withers explained how his family had had their lives ‘ripped apart’ by his death and lamented that it ‘could have so easily been avoided’.
She said: ‘Knowing that it could have been so easily avoided is so painful. It changed and ruined my life forever. I can no longer hug my dad, chat to him or share my life with him.
‘We will spend no more birthdays or Christmasses together. I used to feel so happy and lucky. He’s my hero and always will be. I’m proud to call him my dad.
‘He was just trying to deliver milk and goods to a community that loved him. He did everything right that morning. He had parked his car on the pavement and put his hazard lights on.
‘I will never, ever get my head around what happened when he got out of his van. It could have so easily been avoided. If this hadn’t happened he would have been here for another 20 years.
‘He was the one who I could always talk to. He would drop everything to be there for you.
‘He loved antiques and would have a stall at local markets. He was so kind that he would discount things before people even tried to haggle.
‘He knew the people on Bargain Hunt and was even filmed in an episode which was aired earlier this year. Watching it was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.
‘I have been on anti-depressants just to cope with each day since his passing. Our lives have been ripped apart and will never ever be the same again.’
Mr Withers’ daughter Bridget Withers explained how his family had had their lives ‘ripped apart’ by his death. She is pictured here outside court
Howitt was given an eight month sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work, and was handed a 12 month driving ban
She also told the court how difficult Mr Withers’ wife Maureen had found his death – adding she had also been prescribed antidepressants.
In a statement read to the court Mr Withers’ son Peter said he felt like he had been ‘living in a parallel universe since dad died’.
Peter added: ‘He was my father, best friend and business partner. I won’t be able to continue to business without him.
‘I feel immeasurable pain and have had to receive counselling that I never thought I would.’
Sentencing the driver, Judge Henry Gordon told Howitt: ‘There’s no doubt a tragedy brings you here today. You are charged with causing death by careless driving.
‘It was shortly after 6am when [you struck] your victim, a much-loved family man who selected milk to the community of Salisbury.
‘He had parked his van out on hazard lights.
‘You saw that van in the route you had taken to enjoy the Christmas lights.
‘As you drive along you became distracted. We will never know by what.
‘You collided with Mr Withers and got out of your car. Only then did you notice you had struck him. You called the ambulance but he died of catastrophic bleeding.
‘You were not using your mobile phone at the time, were driving under the speed limit and were not under the influence.’
Judge Gordon added: ‘You will live with this forever.
‘You will soon yourself be a father. It is plain you are a dedicated employee and a supportive partner. You had no previous convictions and a clean driving licence.
‘Whilst I am persuaded you engaged in a brief but avoidable distraction I don’t think this is an extreme example of that.
‘You had an otherwise good driving record, stopped to help your victim and are remorseful.’
Howitt was given an eight month sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work, and was handed a 12 month driving ban.
