A dentist who was sending message on her phone while driving killed an old man and his dog and faces five years in jail

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A dentist who was sending a text message while driving drove over a grandfather and his dog causing their death is facing up to five years in prison.

Kay Nolan, 45, had pulled over in a lay by to compose the message on her mobile phone but only sent it once she was on the move again.

As she set off she knocked down Stuart Mather, a 60-year-old grandfather, as he was crossing the road with his Scottish terrier Hamish.

Mr Mather, a keen cricket and football fan, was taken by air ambulance to hospital but later died. His dog was also killed in the collision in Higham, Lancs, on June 6 last year.

Nolan, who works at Padiham Dental Practice near Burnley, was on her way home to the village of Thornton-in-Cravennear Skipton when she hit him at 5.20pm.

She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving but before her trial could get underway she broke down and sobbed as she admitted the lesser charge of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

She stands against five years of jail sentence, for the offence.

Mr Mather, a member of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) who had two sons and a grandson, was taking Hamish for his regular walk when he was hit.

Nolan who had written the text message while she was parked on theA6068 Barrowford Road, Higham, had not pushed the send button on her phone until she had pulled off and started driving.

She struck Mr Mather and he in turn was hit again by a Vauxhall Astra travelling behind Nolan’s silver Honda Jazz. He died atRoyalBlackburnHospitalbut no-one in either car was injured.

The deceased victim’s family wrote condolence that Stuart was always a popular, jovial person, who very much enjoyed the company of his many friends and family. He was a devoted father and grandfather, and had spent the last few years caring for his mother and his expanding family.

Camra members said Mr Mather had helped score pubs in a pub and club of the year competition and worked at its beer festival in Colne. It now organises Stuart Mather Memorial Days in tribute to him at his local pub inBurnley.

Mr Robert Elias, prosecuting, said prosecutors had accepted Nolan’s guilty plea to the lesser charge after discussions with Mr Mather’s family. She had accepted that she sent the text within six seconds of people phoning the police,” he said.

Motoring solicitor, defending Nolan said that she had no previous convictions. The dentist was granted bail and will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on December 17. Mr Justice Singh, the judge in the case, warned that “all sentencing options” would be considered.