*** PLEASE NOTE - THIS REPORTED CASE WAS NOT HANDLED BY NICK FREEMAN OR ANYONE AT NICK FREEMAN SOLICITORS. IT IS BEING REPORTED PURELY AS A POINT OF INTEREST ***
A man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after admitting to causing the death of an elderly man who was struck by a car while sitting on a bench in a Northamptonshire village.
Derren Goddard, 51, of Harmans Way in Weedon Bec, pleaded guilty to causing death by driving without due care and attention while over the legal alcohol limit. He was sentenced to five years and four months’ imprisonment at Northampton Crown Court.
The victim, Keith Turnidge, 76, who was known locally by the nickname Pop‑Eye, was hit by a Mini Cooper on Bridge Street in Weedon in June 2023. He sustained serious injuries and later died in hospital in August 2023, almost two months after the collision.
In addition to the custodial sentence, Goddard was disqualified from driving for seven years and eight months.
The court heard that Mr Turnidge had been sitting on a bench at the time of the incident. Police described him as a well‑known and popular member of the local community.
Detective Constable El Hudson, the investigating officer, said Mr Turnidge had been “peacefully sitting on a bench watching the world go by” when he was struck, and that his injuries later proved fatal. She said his death had a significant impact on the community and noted that the collision was avoidable.
Police told the court that Goddard had been drinking at a village pub before attempting to drive home, despite living approximately 400 metres away.
Goddard initially denied the charge but changed his plea to guilty at a hearing in July 2025. The court heard that he had previously claimed he had suffered a medical blackout at the time of the incident.
Following sentencing, Det Con Hudson said she hoped Mr Turnidge’s family and the local community would take some comfort in knowing that Goddard had been held accountable. She also thanked members of the public who assisted Mr Turnidge immediately after the collision.
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Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.
Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.
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Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.
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Freeman & Co Solicitors
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