School-run mother who knocked down and killed OAP while using her mobile jailed for two years

A mother-of-four who killed an 80-year-old pedestrian while using her mobile phone at the wheel has been jailed for two years.

Anne Foster-Chia, 44, was on her way to collect her son from school when she failed to stop at a junction and was hit by another vehicle.

Her 4x4 spun round and collided with pensioner Dorothy Andrews as she crossed a nearby street.

At her trial last month, Foster-Chia insisted she had been driving normally and that her phone had fallen to the floor and flicked open to connect to a call.

She also claimed another driver had flashed their lights at her to indicate it was safe to pull out.

But she was convicted by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving and yesterday branded a liar by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court.

Judge Robert Moore said he was satisfied she had driven across the junction holding the phone.

He added: "You told the police, jury and presumably yourself and repeated to me that you knocked the phone to the floor. The jury disbelieved you and so do I.

"The phone did not connect properly. There is no doubt the phone rang. It was your joiner, although you thought it was the school."

Foster-Chia, of Sheffield, was told she will be released on licence after 12 months.

She was also banned from driving for two years.

The accident in December 2005 occurred as Foster-Chia drove to collect her ten-year-old son, who is autistic and has severe epilepsy, from school to attend a hospital appointment.

She denied using her phone at the wheel and claimed she had misjudged the speed of oncoming traffic rather than being distracted.

She told police: "I am very careful about not using the telephone while I am driving. I was not distracted by looking at my phone."

Her phone records show no calls were made or received at the time of the accident.

However, another motorist, Lisa Timms, said she had seen the 4x4 going at "some speed", with the driver's head and shoulder tilted as if to support a phone.

Foster-Chia's other children are 12, 14 and 17. She describes herself as a "lone parent" and their sole carer but it is believed they are likely to be looked after by their father while she is in jail.

Speaking at her £275,000 home, Foster-Chia said a jail sentence would be devastating to her children.

She added: "I am not trying to play down the fact I have been found guilty for the death of an elderly lady and I am desperately sorry about that.

"But if I go to jail it will be my children who are punished and they have done nothing wrong."