A driver jailed for causing the death of a motorcyclist has died while serving her sentence.
Fay Newman was driving a Kia Ceed when she attempted to overtake traffic and collided with motorcyclist Nick Bennell on the A448 Bromsgrove Highway, towards Redditch, four years ago.
Mr Bennell, a 35-year-old father-of-two from Worcester, had fallen off his Honda in a separate incident moments before and, with traffic in the first lane of the dual carriageway, Newman moved into the second lane where she hit him, according to West Mercia Police. Tragically, Mr Bennell was pronounced dead at the scene on August 18, 2021.
In December of last year, Newman, aged 53 and from Redditch, was convicted of causing death by careless driving and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. She was also disqualified from driving for two years and ten months at Worcester Crown Court.
It has now been revealed that Newman passed away at HMP Downview in Banstead, Surrey, on July 20, reports Birmingham Live.
The Prison and Probation Ombudsman is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
According to a Surrey inquest listing, her official place of death was the Princess of Wales Community Hospital in Bromsgrove.
“Fay Newman died on July 20 while serving a sentence at HMP Downview,” a Prison Service spokesman informed BirminghamLive.
“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
A full inquest is scheduled to take place before a Surrey coroner in October.
Following Mr Bennell’s tragic passing, his heartbroken mum Denise, 62, expressed her grief: “our broken hearts will always miss him, but his bright shining light will remain in ours”.
She continued: “Nick was just 35 – a fit and healthy man with his whole life ahead of him. Born in 1986, he grew from a cute baby into a kind, handsome man who was a devoted son.
“Nick and I were very close, we would always be laughing, singing, and dancing together, he had a love of gardening and DIY. He had a smile that would brighten up the room and the most infectious laugh.
“Nick was very sociable and was always first on the dance floor at any family gathering we had. His life’s light was sadly snubbed out but will always shine bright in my heart for the rest of my life.
“He would look up to his big brother as a friend and fellow soldier – his older siblings remember fondly their baby brother’s mop of hair, big blue eyes, and inquisitive and adventurous nature.
“He was a supportive big brother to his little sister – he was everything to her. He was a fun-loving, entertaining uncle and a loving father of two.
“These are all memories that will be cherished forever in their hearts and thoughts. He will not see his children grow up, meet any grandchildren or be there for any future family milestones.
“Our broken hearts will always miss him, but his bright shining light will remain in ours, his elderly grandmother and the wider family’s memories forever.”