A DPD driver who fatally injured an OAP before taking off and continuing his deliveries has now been jailed.
Despite knocking down Victoria Blair in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, and calling emergency services, James Murdoch still went about his day.
The 77-year-old was using a walking frame on January 27, 2023, when she was hit and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but died a week later on February 3.
Murdoch has now been jailed for 16 months after he was convicted of causing death following his trial at Newcastle Crown Court in September.
Northumbria Police tracked down Murdoch, who told officers Victoria had fallen behind his vehicle before he reversed out of a car park.
However, a police probe found the grandmother had been walking home from going shopping when she was struck by Murdoch.
Chronicle Live reported Murdoch knocked the OAP down at Haltwhistle residential home – where Victoria was living.
Alongside being jailed on Monday, the 43-year-old DPD driver has been banned from driving for 12 months.
James Murdoch has been jailed for 16 months after he was found guilty of causing fatal injuries to a 77-year-old
The County Durham man is also required to pay a victim surcharge.
Judge Julie Clemitson reportedly told the court: ‘You were working as a delivery driver for DPD on the day of your offending. You would normally use your own van with safety features to make it safer while you carried out your delivery route.
‘Those safety features included a reversing camera, parking sensors and an audio alarm to warn others when you were reversing. Had you been driving that van, it seems very likely this tragedy would have been avoided.’
The court heard evidence that Murdoch was given another van that morning because his had a fault.
The replacement van did not have a reversing camera or a warning alarm.
The Judge explained how Murdoch drove into a car park, but the van was too big to fit into the area.
She added: ‘You chose to drive in and stop as close to the delivery destinations as you could, as indeed, could many other drivers would have done.’
Victoria Blair was using a walking frame on January 27, 2023, when she was hit by James Murdoch. She taken to hospital in a critical condition, but died a week later on February 3
The court heard how Murdoch sat stationary in his car for almost two minutes, looking for his next stop before driving away.
Moments later, Victoria came from the back street and crossed the road on her way back to the retirement home before waiting while walking into the car park.
Judge Clemitson said: ‘She would have seen you parked and may very well have been waiting to see if you were going to start moving and to weigh up her options on how to get back to her front door.
‘Because she used a walker and there were no drop kerbs around the perimeter of the pavement.’
The Judge acknowledged Murdoch did check his mirrors before leaving the car park, but could not see the blind spot at the rear.
‘Tragically, Victoria Blair was in that blind spot and caused her to fall to the ground,’ she said.
‘Your van either knocked her over on making contact with her or her walker, or was so close to doing so that Victoria Blair fell as she tried to avoid being struck.
‘Her fall and her consequential injuries were a result of you accelerating backwards towards her as she tried to cross the car park. Had you got out of your van to check before you moved back, you would have seen her.’
The court heard Murdoch thought he checked like ‘any normal person would do’.
In a victim impact statement, Judge Clemitson said her family described the tragedy as having a devastating impact on them.
The family described Victoria as their rock and a much-loved mother and grandmother.
‘She was an important part of their lives. It is all too evident her death caused a huge void in the lives of her family, who are all devastated,’ Judge Clemitson continued.
Murdoch’s lawyer, Robin Patton, told the court how genuinely remorseful he was for the gran’s death, saying he still thinks about it every day.
‘It is of no comfort to her family, but he started a petition to see if the law can be changed so delivery vans which do not have clear class vision at the rear must be required to have reversing cameras,’ explained Patton.
Victoria’s children Matthew and Alexandra Blair on Monday spoke on behalf of their family.
Matthew said: ‘On the 27th of January 2023, I received a call that would change every minute of every day for the rest of my life.’
Alexandra added that her mother ‘didn’t lose her life through old age or illness’ but that ‘she had her life taken from her when she still had many, many years left’.
The pair scolded Murdoch, saying he could have ‘spared us all the pain’ – but instead had shown ‘no remorse or sympathy’.
Alexandra ended the family statement, saying, ‘May you rest in peace, Mam, we love you always and will never forget you – and you live on in us every day.’
Northumbria Police Sergeant Andrew Ferguson said ‘Firstly, I would like to express my deepest sympathies to Victoria’s family as they continue to navigate life without her.
‘Above all else, they have shown significant strength throughout the lengthy investigation and proceedings that have followed – and I’d like to praise them as we reach an outcome today.’
Victoria is survived by four children and seven grandchildren.