*** 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 who was driving while over the legal alcohol limit has been sentenced to prison after causing a fatal head‑on collision in North Yorkshire.
Oliver Hartley, 24, admitted causing the death of Linda Stockdale, 65, who was driving home after babysitting her grandchildren. The crash occurred on the A6055 between Catterick and Leeming Bar in the early hours of August 2021.
Hartley had taken his mother’s Audi A7 without her permission. He was not insured to drive the vehicle. His car collided with Ms Stockdale’s Kia as she was returning to her home in Tunstall.
Ms Stockdale died at the scene.
Hartley was originally charged with causing death by dangerous driving but later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison at York Crown Court.
At the time of the collision, Hartley was estimated to be travelling at 72mph. Expert analysis later found that he had driven at speeds of up to 105mph earlier in the journey. Data from his mobile phone showed he had driven repeatedly along the A1(M) and A6055, making seven journeys after taking the car from his mother’s home in Harrogate, and travelling as far as Scotch Corner.
Hartley also admitted drink‑driving. Blood tests showed alcohol levels ranging between 119mg and 203mg, exceeding the legal limit of 80mg. He had already been given a 20‑month driving ban at a separate hearing in 2022.
During sentencing, the court heard expert evidence describing Hartley as “lost and intoxicated” at the time of the collision.
Ms Stockdale’s family described the impact of her death in statements read to the court. Her son said she had been a caring and thoughtful person whose loss had affected family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Her daughter spoke of the difficulty of losing a parent.
Ms Stockdale worked with children with disabilities and had been due to retire one week after the crash. Her partner of 25 years described the loss as life‑changing and said his life had stood still since her death.
At a further hearing on Friday, Hartley was disqualified from driving for an additional six months.
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Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.
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