Jail for driver who killed girl as he read text message

A TEENAGE driver killed a “beautiful and bubbly” girl after losing control of his car while reading a text message.

Sarah Oldham 17 died when Isaak Playford took his eyes off the road Sarah Oldham, 17, died when Isaak Playford took his eyes off the road

Isaak Playford, 18, took his eyes off the road to check his mobile phone before ploughing into an electricity pylon, a court heard.

His passenger, pretty blonde A-level student Sarah Oldham, 17, died two days later in hospital.

Playford denied causing death by dangerous driving. But he changed his plea at the last minute and was jailed for 21 months on Friday.

Cambridge Crown Court heard how Playford lost control of his green Citroen Saxo on the A142 at Mepal, Cambs, on January 14.

Miss Oldham, a student at Ely Community College, died later with her family beside her at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Playford, from Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, was sentenced to 21 months in a young offenders’ institution and disqualified from driving for four years.

Dominic Thomas, in mitigation, said Playford had not driven since the accident and was receiving counselling.

Mr Thomas added: “Most of all he wants his own and her family to accept his remorse and deep sorrow for her death.”

The court heard that although Playford had only recently passed his test, there had been nothing to suggest he was not a safe driver when he offered the teenager a lift home.

Judge Hawkesworth told him: “It was clear you failed to pay attention to the road for the period of 31 seconds. Nothing I say or do can compensate the family of your passenger for her death. What I do is bring home to you and all others that driving on our overcrowded roads is a very dangerous business and requires absolute attention at all times.

“I give you credit for your youth, good character and that you were inexperienced but the aggravating factor is that you were distracted by reading a text message on your phone while at the wheel.” After the case, Inspector Alan Page said: “Sending or reading text messages while driving is very dangerous and research has shown it reduces your reaction time by 35 per cent. I would ask people: ‘Is sending or receiving a text message really worth endangering your, or someone else’s life for?’”

Miss Oldham’s parents paid tribute to their “beautiful and bubbly girl”. Her father Mike, 49, said it would leave a “permanent hole” in their hearts. Her organs were donated as she had wished and family and friends have raised thousands of pounds for the hospital which cared for her.

Hundreds of people attended a memorial service for the teenager, where her friends danced the conga.

Colleagues at Costa Cafe in Ely, where she worked part-time, completed a sponsored cycle ride in her memory.

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