Double death crash driver jailed

A 62-year-old man from Cumbria has been jailed for 15 months for killing an elderly couple in a car crash.

Edward Nicholson, 74, and his wife Joan, 73, of Brook Street, Thursby died when their Rover 200 collided with two cars at Kingside Hill in March 2005.

Joseph Twedell, of Tenters in Wigton, pleaded guilty to two charges of death by dangerous driving near Abbeytown.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how Twedell had tried to overtake a car even though vehicles were coming the other way.

Health problems

The court was told how Twedell, a market trader, was on the B5302 Abbeytown to Silloth Road when he pulled in sharply after trying to overtake.

But he then hit a verge and bounced back into the path of the Rover which was being driven by Mr Nicholson.

The court heard how Mr Twedell, who was on crutches, now suffers from severe psychiatric problems and was suicidal because he felt so guilty about what he had done.

The judge said he took into account his health problems and his 45-year clean driving record when sentencing him. He was also banned from driving for three years.